Belgian State 0-6-0 Locomotives in Belgium

Class 2513 (Locobase 6791)

Data from the table presented on pages 375, 377 of the Groupe VI. - GTnie civil. - Moyens de transport. DeuxiFme partie. Classes 32 (Tome I), part of the series of Rapports du Jury Internationale of the Exposition Unverselle Internationale de 1900 Paris Exposition, hosted on the website of Le Conservatoire numTrique des Arts & MTtiers ([], Accessed 21 August 2005).

The Jury report tells us that 2513 is Haine St. Pierre works #2513 and 2514 was St. Leonard's 144. The design resembles that of the older Type 30 locomotives and was suitable for short and long trips hauling freight.

Locobase notes how small the boiler was in relation to the cylinders (148:1) and the firebox when the tubes were measured from the internal (fire side) diameter. Tube heating surface area measured 105.1 sq m (1,131 sq ft). Locobase uses the external diameter.

Class Type 2 (Locobase 6431)

Data from Data from J Vandenberghen, Ingeneur en chef, IV. Periode Belpaire 1864-1883 (Bruxelles [Brussels]: Department Materiel, 18 April 1988),, pp. 61-74, data 71-73, supplied on 24 December 2020 by Teevu Koivumaki; G. Brabt "Ordinary Types of Belgium State Railway Locomotives", American Engineer and Railroad Journal, Volume 67, No 6 (June 1893), pp. 288-293; and Phil Dambly, "TroisiFme pTriode, 1864-1884 - RTgime Belpaire" on the Rixke Rail's Archives website at [], last accessed 31 December 2020. (Link supplied by Teevu Koivumaki.)

Locobase estimates the boiler pressure based on other Belgian locomotives described in a later AERJ issue of the same year and calculates the grate area based on the dimensions in the text. (The table of specifications does not, for some reason, include either figure.)

This six-coupled freight was based on the Type 1 passenger locomotive and had relatively high drivers for its role. The construction and layout was, Brabt reported, essentially the same and the accompanying illustration confirms the comment while showing the classic cross-section of the Belpaire firebox. The one difference is that because the leading axle was higher than that of the passenger engine, the cylinders were inclined on a 1-to-9 rake to clear the lead axle and drive on the second.

As a passenger locomotive, Brabt noted, the Type 2 "easily takes the load of 80 tons up a continuous grade of 1.6% at a speed of 34.17 mph [55 km/h]."

(NB: The area as stated in the diagrams shown in Vandenberghen used the internal (fire side) diameters of the tubes, which was 98.40 sq m (1,059 sq ft). Locobase uses the external (water side) diameter also supplied in the diagrams. This allows easier comparison with most Anglo-American locomotives.)

Class Type 25 (Locobase 6436)

Data from G. Brabt, "Standard Freight Engines of the Belgium State Railways", American Engineer and Railroad Journal, Volume 67, No 8 (August 1893), pp. pp. 385-388.; and from "Recent Belgian Locomotives," The Locomotive & Railway Carriage & Wagon Review, Vol III (April 1898), p. 70.

More powerful than the Type 28/29 series, these locomotives followed typical Belgian practice that included the tapered, rectangular stack evident on several classes. A major difference was the cross-section of the firebox, which was a broad trapezoid that had a angular upper section, but was not truly a Belpaire firebox. The dome rode over the second driven axle just behind the sand box.

Later locomotives (1896-1897) had a conical stack, Serve tubes, and a boiler pressed to 175 psi.

(NB: The area as stated in the diagrams shown in Vandenberghen used the internal (fire side) diameters of the tubes, which was 115.29 sq m (1,241 sq ft). Locobase uses the external (water side) diameter also supplied in the diagrams. This allows easier comparison with most Anglo-American locomotives.)

Class Type 28 (Locobase 6434)

Data from J Vandenberghen, Ingeneur en chef, IV. Periode Belpaire 1864-1883 (Bruxelles [Brussels]: Department Materiel, 18 April 1988),, pp. 61-74, data 71-73, supplied on 24 December 2020 by Teevu Koivumaki; G. Brabt, "Standard Freight Engines of the Belgium State Railways", American Engineer and Railroad Journal, Volume 67, No 8 (August 1893), pp. 385-388; and Phil Dambly, "TroisiFme pTriode, 1864-1884 - RTgime Belpaire" on the Rixke Rail's Archives website at [], last accessed 31 December 2020. (Link supplied by Teevu Koivumaki.)

Other than the wheel diameter, these six-coupleds were identical to the Type 2s described in Locobase 6431, says Brabt, including the Belpaire firebox. And the Type 29s shown in Locobase 6435 were the same design with still smaller drivers.

These Type 28s were used on level portions of the line. Noting that the locomotives had no wheel brakes, the author adds that they used a Le Chatellier water brake (described in Locobases 3458 and 13777).

(NB: The area as stated in the diagrams shown in Vandenberghen used the internal (fire side) diameters of the tubes, which was 98.40 sq m (1,059 sq ft). Locobase uses the external (water side) diameter also supplied in the diagrams. This allows easier comparison with most Anglo-American locomotives.)

Class Type 29-Belpaire (Locobase 6435)

Data from J Vandenberghen, Ingeneur en chef, IV. Periode Belpaire 1864-1883 (Bruxelles [Brussels]: Department Materiel, 18 April 1988),, pp. 75-90, data 84-85, supplied on 24 December 2020 by Teevu Koivumaki; G. Brabt, "Standard Freight Engines of the Belgium State Railways", American Engineer and Railroad Journal, Volume 67, No 8 (August 1893), pp. pp. 385-388; and Phil Dambly, "TroisiFme pTriode, 1864-1884 - RTgime Belpaire" on the Rixke Rail's Archives website at [], last accessed 31 December 2020. (Link supplied by Teevu Koivumaki.)

Vandenberghen's account contains the full construction list, which features most Belgian locomotive builders such as Evrard, Couillet, Tubize, Carels, Cockerill, and others. Road numbers were scattered at first with 20 represented Type 28s fitted with the smaller drivers. 967-994, 1010-10161025-1032, 1063-1086, 1113-1139, 1153-1161, 1201-1211,1230-1262, 1283-1424, 1534-1613,1669-1729

Other than the wheel diameter, these six-coupleds were identical to the Type 2s described in Locobase 6431, wrote Brabt. Taking the basic design and mounting still smaller drivers while raising the boiler pressure brought the tractive effort up noticeably, although the Belpaire firebox remained unchanged. Type 29s were rated at 230 tons up a 1.6% continuous 32-km (20 miles) grade at 10.6 mph (17 km/h).

All of the motion, except the coupling rods, operated within the plate frames. Vandenberghen commented that the relatively long wheelbase and inside cylinders created a "particularly stable" even at substantial speeds.

In the 1880s, average wagon size increased from 10 tons to 15 and later 20 tons. The heavier trains required double- and triple-heading operation. The First World War accounted for the earliest retirements of large bunches of engines with most of the rest being withdrawn in the mid-1920s.

(NB: The area as stated in the diagrams shown in Vandenberghen used the internal (fire side) diameters of the tubes, which was 98.40 sq m (1,059 sq ft). Locobase uses the external (water side) diameter also supplied in the diagrams. This allows easier comparison with most Anglo-American locomotives.)

Class Type 29-Straight boiler (Locobase 20823)

Data from J Vandenberghen, Ingeneur en chef, IV. Periode Belpaire 1864-1883 (Bruxelles [Brussels]: Department Materiel, 18 April 1988),, pp. 75-90, data 84-85, supplied on 24 December 2020 by Teevu Koivumaki; G. Brabt, "Standard Freight Engines of the Belgium State Railways", American Engineer and Railroad Journal, Volume 67, No 8 (August 1893), pp. pp. 385-388; and Phil Dambly, "TroisiFme pTriode, 1864-1884 - RTgime Belpaire" on the Rixke Rail's Archives website at [], last accessed 31 December 2020. (Link supplied by Teevu Koivumaki.)

Vandenberghen's account shows La Croyere, St Leonard, Tubize, Cockerill as the principal Belgian builders with Vienna's StEG producing 20 of the class when demand exceeded Belgian capacity.

Locobase 6435 shows the first 500+ locomotives, which were produced in 1875-1884 with Alfred Belpaire's signature flat-topped firebox. Fourteen years later, the design proved useful enough to put back into production. 136 went to the Etat Belge.

A new round-topped boiler and firebox replaced Belpaire's version, grate and firebox areas increased slightly, and a 5-mm trim in tube length resulted in a small decrease in tube heating surface area. An easily recognized change is the shift in the steam dome's position from just behind the stack and over the first axle to the middle boiler course over the gap between the first and second axles.

As with the Belpaire Type 28s, these later engines encountered their first significant spate of withdrawals in the First World War. Most of the rest were retired in the late-1920s and early 1930s.

Class Type 32 (Locobase 9180)

Data from Maurice Demoulin, Locomotive Actuelle ... (Paris: Librairie Polytechnique Ch.Beranger, 1906), p 206-207; and J Vandenberghen, "Type 32", X Periode MacIntosh - 1898-1904 (Brussels: Belgian Railways, 1988), pp. 137- 177. Vandenberghen's list of locomotive orders showed fifteen different Belgian builders.

Demoulin notes that these were used to increase the average speed of freight trains and were based, as were so many other Belgian engines of the day, on a similar locomotive operating on the Caledonian Railway in the British Isles.

Vandenberghen, Ingeneur en Chef Honoraire of the SNCB, assembled his extensive coverage of the Type 32 from a variety of sources. Several railway diagrams, informed accounts in journals, and other accounts agreed on most counts, but offered different data as part otheir specifications.

Operational experience revealed the Type 32's flexibility and useful power. A Type 32 could pull 590 tons of trailing load up a 0.5% grade at 45 kph (28 mph). On the level and heading a passenger train of 443 tons, a Type 32 could reach 75 kph (47 mph).

Class Type 32bis (32S)/Type 41 (Locobase 10544)

Data from "Recent Locomotives of the Belgian State Railways," The Locomotive Magazine, Volume XII [12] (15 January 1906), p.7. See also J B Flamme, Les Materiel des Chemins de Fer a L'Exposition universelle et internationale de Bruxelles de 1910 (Paris: H. Dunod et E Pinat, 1911), p. 52; and Luc DePorte, "Locomotive a marchandises et a voyageurs - Tubize type 96 (type 32s EB > 31 EB> 41 SNCB)--19 June 2020 on the Musee de la Porte website at [] , last accessed 26 December 2020. Works numbers were 1477-1492, 1509-1519, 1549-1561.

After the Belgian State had procured 250 of the saturated-steam standard goods engine shown in Locobase 9180, it began taking delivery of a superheated version. This had slightly larger cylinders, piston valves, and a Schmidt superheater of relatively generous proportions. Its boiler was raised by 120 mm (4.7 in) to provide more support through a second row of rivets.

The author noted that their main role was to haul the goods traffic on the main lines. In addition, they would take passenger trains connecting Brussels to Antwerp, Termonde, Mons, Charleroi, and Tournai as well as tackling the heavy grades and serving the Luxembourg traffic.

"On account of their greater haulage capacity, allowing the despatch of heavier trains," the author concludes, "they have effected a distinct gain in transportation facilities on over-crowded lines."

Indeed, the design was so satisfactory that over 300 were completed over a nine-year period. They were rated to climb a 1/2% grade hauling 600 tons at 45 kph (28 mph) . On the level, a 443-ton trainload could be moved at up to 75 kph (46.6 mph).

NB: Evaporative heating surface area in the specs uses the water-side (i.e., external) diameter of the tubes. When calculated using the fire side (internal diameter), total EHS came to 96.19 sq m (1,035 sq ft).

Class Type 51 (Locobase 6439)

Data from G. Brabt, "Standard Freight Engines of the Belgium State Railways", American Engineer and Railroad Journal, Volume 67, No 8 (August 1893), pp. pp. 385-388 and from and from "Recent Belgian Locomotives," The Locomotive & Railway Carriage & Wagon Review, Vol III (June 1898), p. 786.

Class unknown (Locobase 7418)

Data from Titre Exposition universelle internationale de 1889 a Paris. Rapports du jury internationale. Auteur - Volume France. Ministere du Commerce, de l'industrie. Picard, Alfred, ed. Volume Groupe VI - -Outillage et precedes des industries mecaniques. Electricite (5e partie) Classes 60 a 63. Rapport sur le materiel des chemins de fer. tables beginning on p. 183 ([] (accessed 1 September 2005)

Exhibited both by La Meuse and St Leonard, this little six-coupled was intended for suburban branch-line operation. The Belpaire firebox rested between the second and third axles.

Tonnage ratings included 110 tonnes at 30 km/h (19 mph) up a 1.6% grade and 55 km/h (34 mph) on the flat.

Class unknown (Locobase 20231)

Data from "Tank Engines for Light Trains, Belgian State Railways", Engineer, Volume 67, No 8 (18 April 1890), p. 323.

The Belgian State Railway Administration set a stringent set of requirements for this small locomotive. It had to pull 110 tons up a 1.6% grade at 30 kph (18.6 mph) and reach 55 kph on the level. And the axle loading could not top 10 metric tons per axle. St Leonard produced a design that could take either 1,060 or 1,200 mm drivers and used a square-shouldered Belpaire firebox to "afford a large grate araa and not require frequent firing."