FC Argentine Great Western 2-6-2 Locomotives in Argentina

Class 313 (Locobase 10635)

Data from "Tank Locomotive, Argentine Great Western Ry," The Locomotive Magazine, Vol XIII (14 December 1907), p. 225.

These were similar to Prairie tanks being delivered to other Argentine railways in the same period, but were somewhat larger. The tall side tanks almost completely obscured a view of the Belpaire firebox. Other than the outside Walschaert valve gear, the locomotives flaunted their British origins.

NB: Tube length is an estimate based on the calculation of tube surface area by subtracting reported firebox heating surface from reported total evaporative heating surface

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Class 8 (Locobase 11225)

Data from diagram supplied at the [] site, last accessed 17 April 2010. See also D S Purdom, British Team on the Pampas (London and New York: Mechanical Engineering Publications, Ltd:, 1977), pp. 41-42.

Beyer, Peacock supplied the first six in 1906 (works numbers were 4794-4799 and North British Locomotive Company added works numbers 17477-17758 in 1907.

Something of a makeshift design, the Class 8s used boilers and cylinders from the Class 6 engines and mounted them on new frames. According to Purdom, the class spent most of its relatively short career "on light duties around Bahia Blanca." Twelve had been retired by 1924 and the rest left the roster in the next few years.

Robert Stephenson & Company supplied six more in 1912 with larger tanks; see Locobase 11226.

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Class 8A (Locobase 11226)

Data from diagram supplied at the [] site, last accessed 17 April 2010. Works numbers 3457-3462 in 1912.

This sextet was identical to the Serie 8s that arrived from Beyer, Peacock and North British a few years earlier (Locobase 11225). The only difference was the somewhat larger tanks, which put a bit more weight on the drivers when filled.

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Class 8S (Locobase 11227)

Data from diagram supplied at the [] site, last accessed 17 April 2010.

After World War One ended and the railway-hostile government of Irgoyen was replaced by one more favorably disposed toward foreign ownership of railways, the AGW added to its Prairie tank switcher stud by buying 10 more that were similar in many respects to the Serie 8 and Serie 8A shown in Locobase 11225 and 11226.

These were bigger engines, however, and they were superheated. Over half were later converted to oil-burning.