FC Central Norte Argentino 4-6-2 Locomotives in Argentina

Class B-9/301 (Locobase 12883)

Data from "Locomotive Building", Railway Age Gazette, Volume XLV, No 11 (14 August 1908), p. 732; updated and corrected by "Catalogue 10036--Locomotives for Export", American Locomotive Company (New York City, April 1910), pp. 28-29; and "Locomotives for the Central Northern Railway of the Argentine [sic]", Railway and Locomotive Engineering, Volume 22, No. 3 (March 1909), p. 129. Works numbers were 45629-45648 in October 1908.

In contrast to the deep, narrow copper firebox placed in the ten Ten-wheelers delivered at the same time, the 20 Pacifics in this Alco batch had wide, quite shallow fireboxes, also of the Belpaire square-shouldered design, made of Siemens-Martin steel. According to R&LE, these were the lightest Pcifics built by Brooks for the metre gauge.

Class B12 (Locobase 3713)

Data provided by Carlos Alberto Fern+ndez Priotti in Bryan Attewell ([] Steam Locomotive simulator program (April 2000). See also DeGolyer, Vol 72, pp. 197+. Paul T Warner, History of the Baldwin Locomotive Works, 1831-1923 (reprinted in Fred Westing, The Locomotives that Baldwin Built (Seattle: Superior Publishing Company, 1966)). Works numbers were 55184-55189 in November 1921 and 55210, 55215-55232 in January 1922.

Warner says that this shipment of oil-burning Pacifics was the largest foreign order of 1921 for Baldwin (a year in which locomotive sales sank around the world). About the contract, he comments:

"This business was negotiated on an unusual credit basis whereby the State Railways were loaned 30% in cash of the total value of the order. This method of financing met with considerable criticism in the United States, but its wisdom has been amply demonstrated. Through this order, The Baldwin Locomotive Works received business approximating $4,000,000 and has firmly established itself with a customer of the highest standing."

These mixed-traffic locomotives were pretty substantial metre-gauge engines with a healthy superheater ratio, 10" (254 mm) piston valves, but relatively small Belpaire firebox and low factor of adhesion. They were tasked to handled 3 1/2% grades and curves of 125 metre/410 foot radius.

3025, ordered in May 1922, had 60" drivers and was painted Royal Blue and aluminum to haul the Presidential express.

See 3719 for the 50 4-8-2s delivered a year later and 15279 for the broad-gauge Royal Blue 4-8-2 that was dedicated to the Presidential express.

Class B13 (Locobase 3714)

Data provided by Carlos Alberto Fern+ndez Priotti in Bryan Attewell ([] Steam Locomotive simulator program (April 2000). Works numbers were 9287-9293 in March 1948 and 9294-9301 in April.

Slightly modified B12s that came along 27 years later from another American builder. These were among the last Lima steam locomotives delivered to anyone.

Class B15 (Locobase 3715)

Data provided by Carlos Alberto Fern+ndez Priotti in Bryan Attewell ([] Steam Locomotive simulator program (April 2000).

Originally delivered to FC Cordoba Central as 4-6-4T tank passenger engines, these were modified to 4-6-2 tender engines in 1942-1943.