Belgian State 0-4-0 Locomotives in Belgium


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class 56 (Locobase 10501)

Data from "Steam Rail Motor Coaches, Belgian State Railways," The Locomotive Magazine, Vol XI (14 April 1905), p. 61.

Introduced at the same time as the 6-wheeled steam motor carriage shown in Locobase 10500, this vehicle ran quite a bit bigger. The coach rode on two full bogies, the front one of which was powered; surprisingly the larger vehicle had less cylinder volume and consequently less tractive power. It was outfitted for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd-class passengers and some of their baggage and was rated at 38 mph (61 km/h).


Class Type 38 (Locobase 7329)

Data from Titre Exposition universelle internationale de 1878 a Paris. Rapports du jury internationale..Volume Groupe VI - Classe 64. Rapport sur le materiel des chemins de fer. p. 50 (cnum.cnam.fr/CGI/fpage.cgi?8XAE277-11.1/54/100/312/0/0 (accessed 1 September 2005).

Again, the jury's report tells us little about this tiny industrial tank. Also, the table on p. 52 shows it to have had a vertical boiler.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
Class56Type 38
Locobase ID10501 7329
RailroadBelgian StateBelgian State
CountryBelgiumBelgium
Whyte0-4-0+4T0-4-0T
Number in Class1
Road Numbers56
GaugeStdStd
Number Built1
BuilderLa MetallurgiqueSA Saint Leonard
Year19041878
Valve GearStephensonWalschaert
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m) 6.56 / 2
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)31.73 / 9.70 6.56 / 2
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase1
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)31.73 / 9.70 6.56 / 2
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)33,069 / 15,00019,842 / 9000
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)70,112 / 31,80019,842 / 9000
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)356 / 1.35
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT) 0.20
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)17 / 8.50
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)38.10 / 97025.60 / 650
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)175.50 / 1210116 / 800
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)7.88" x 13.75" / 200x3507.87" x 11.81" / 200x300
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)3343 / 1516.362817 / 1277.77
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 9.89 7.04
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)121 - 1.772" / 45
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flue/Tube length (ft / m) 3.71 / 1.13
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)44.40 / 4.1019.58 / 1.82
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)11.84 / 1.10 6.56 / 0.61
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)240 / 22.30334 / 31.06
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)240 / 22.30334 / 31.06
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume309.23502.31
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation2078761
Same as above plus superheater percentage2078761
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area77922271
Power L166343215
Power MT714.43

All material Copyright © SteamLocomotive.com
Wes Barris