FC Central Norte Argentino 4-8-2 Locomotives in Argentina


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class C12 (Locobase 3719)

Data provided by Carlos Alberto Fern+ndez Priotti in Bryan Attewell ([link] Steam Locomotive simulator program (April 2000) and DeGolyer, Vol 72, pp. 216+. Works numbers were 55131-55147, 55153-55183 in November 1921, 55506-55514 in July 1922.

Two years after Baldwin delivered 25 superheated Mikes (C11) built to a 10-year-old design (Locobase ), the company came up with these Mountains. They repeated the C12 Pacific specifications from 1921 (Locobase 3713) in almost all respects including the details of the Belpaire firebox and 10" (254 mm) diameter piston valves, but added a fourth axle to increase adhesion weight. The specs noted that these engines would operate at 4,100 metres (13,451 feet) above sea level, but that gradients would not exceed 2 1/2%, compensated, at any point.

See Locobase 3713 for Paul Warner's discussion of the financing arrangements for this large order. In a contemporary advertisement, Baldwin said that the new line between Rosario de Lerma and Huaytiquina over the Andes was nearly complete and would connect with the Antofagasta to establish the first trans-continental railway.


Class C14 (Locobase 3720)

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

Sixteen years after Baldwin delivered 59 powerful Mountains, Henschel added 24 more, plus 6 that, like the Class 25 4-8-4s in South Africa, had exhaust-condensing equipment that allowed them to operate in areas that had very little usable water (such as the line from Cordoba to San Juan). When the condensing equipment was removed in the 1950s (probably because diesels had taken over that service), the six engines were renumbered in series with the other (883-888).


Class C16 (Locobase 3721)

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

Essentially repeats of the C12/C14 Mountains, these were among the last steam locomotives to be built by Baldwin (works numbers 73538-73567, road numbers 1801-1830) and by Alco (who split the order). They were big and powerful locomotives for the gauge.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
ClassC12C14C16
Locobase ID3719 3720 3721
RailroadFC Central Norte Argentino (FCCNA)FC Central Norte Argentino (FCCNA)FC Central Norte Argentino (FCCNA)
CountryArgentinaArgentinaArgentina
Whyte4-8-24-8-24-8-2
Number in Class603060
Road Numbers800-859859-882, 8001-80061801-1860
GaugeMetreMetreMetre
Number Built603060
BuilderBaldwinHenschel & Sohnseveral
Year192219381948
Valve GearWalschaert
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)13.50 / 4.11
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)32.42 / 9.88
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.42
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)57.50 / 17.53
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)30,865 / 14,000
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)119,392 / 54,155117,376 / 53,241121,856 / 55,273
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)170,800 / 77,474
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)97,000 / 43,999
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)267,800 / 121,473
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)4500 / 17.056159 / 23.336165 / 23.35
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT)2000 / 7570 9.50 / 9 9.50 / 9
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)50 / 2549 / 24.5051 / 25.50
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)50 / 127050 / 127050 / 1270
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)204.50 / 1410203.10 / 1400204.50 / 1410
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)19" x 24" / 483x61019.7" x 24" / 500x61019.7" x 24" / 500x610
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)30,120 / 13662.2232,159 / 14587.0932,381 / 14687.79
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 3.96 3.65 3.76
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)165 - 1.96" / 50
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)28 - 5.35" / 136
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)19.50 / 5.9419.33 / 5.8919.33 / 5.89
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)151 / 14.03
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)44 / 4.0944.10 / 4.1044 / 4.09
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)2590 / 240.712604 / 242.012578 / 239.59
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)648 / 60.22650 / 60.41631 / 58.64
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)3238 / 300.933254 / 302.423209 / 298.23
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume328.86307.55304.48
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation899889578998
Same as above plus superheater percentage10,79810,74810,798
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area37,055
Power L119,857
Power MT1466.67

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