New South Wales 2-8-2 Locomotives in Australia

In a 28 April 2017 email, Stephen Low provided the following information about the US Army Mikados...

These were among the very last steam locomotives built by Baldwin for any railroad. An Australian railway department press release noted that these were the only Mikados on the NSW system and were the first Baldwins to have been imported since the 1906 P6 class.

These Mikados were ordered from the Baldwin Locomotive Works and the USATC. The S200 design of WWII (Locobase 958) was chosen because it was an existing design that met the NSW loading gauge. However, the tender was shortened so that the locomotives could be turned on existing 60 foot turntables in the proposed areas of operation.

Works numbers were 75564-75583 in 1951. They had cast-steel frames with integral cylinders and the 10" piston valves could be relined.

All 20 were delivered as oil burners, but in 1962-1965, the NSW converted seventeen of the engines to coal burning. Adhesion weight increased to 147,840 lb (66 long tons). Loaded engine weight climbed to 206,080 lb (92 tons). The lighter tender weighed 132,160 lb (59 tons) and held 12.1 short tons (11 tons) and 6,540 US gallons (5,550 Imp gal).


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class D59 (Locobase 2418)

Data from publicity handout reproduced at [link] and [link] . Works numbers were 75564-75583 in 1951.

An American Mikado produced very late in the steam era. They were among the very last Baldwin steam locomotives built for anyone. An Australian railway department press release noted that these were the only Mikados on the NSW and were the first Baldwins to have been imported since the 1906 P6 class.

Like all late Baldwins, the cast-steel frame had integral cylinders. These and the 10"(254 mm) piston valves could be relined. A photograph depicts orthodox American good looks mated to a stubby tender. So small a tender was necessary to fit the assembly on a 60' turntable.

In 1962-1965, the NSW converted seventeen of the engines to coal burning. Adhesion weight increased to 147,840 lb (66 long tons), loaded engine weight climbed to 206,080 lb (92 tons). The lighter tender weighed 132,160 lb (59 tons) and held 12.1 short tons (11 tons) and 6,540 US gallons (5,550 Imp gal).

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
ClassD59
Locobase ID2418
RailroadNew South Wales
CountryAustralia
Whyte2-8-2
Number in Class20
Road Numbers5901-5920
GaugeStd
Number Built20
BuilderBaldwin
Year1952
Valve GearWalschaert
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)15.75 / 4.80
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)32.75 / 9.98
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.48
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)58 / 17.68
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)36,400 / 16,511
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)145,412 / 65,958
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)201,152 / 91,241
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)135,520 / 61,471
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)336,672 / 152,712
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)6600 / 25
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT)2880 / 10,901
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)61 / 30.50
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)60 / 1524
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)204.50 / 1410
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)21" x 28" / 533x711
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)35,773 / 16226.38
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 4.06
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)139 - 2" / 51
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)30 - 5.375" / 137
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)17.50 / 5.33
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)163 / 15.15
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)47 / 4.37
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)2148 / 199.63
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)624 / 57.99
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)2772 / 257.62
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume191.36
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation9612
Same as above plus superheater percentage11,822
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area41,000
Power L115,630
Power MT947.88

Photos

  • 5917 (Coramba photo by Pater Reading)
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