Grand Central 2-4-2 Locomotives in Belgium

Class 1214 (Locobase 20414)

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). See also "Old Belgian Tank Locomotives", Locomotive Magazine, Volume XXI [21] (15 February 2018), pp. 31-

This tank engine design was a bit "out there". Belpaire sought to render express service even on branch lines ahead of short trains or even on main lines. As the various ratios suggest, "she did not give the results anticipated." Low boiler pressure and very tall drivers meant a meager tractive effort.

The design wasn't repeated, but the 1214 remained in service into the 20th century when it was rebuilt.

Class 32 (Locobase 7331)

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); and "Locomotives at the Paris Exhibition--No. XVII-Belgium", Engineering, Volume 27 (4 April 1879), p 271-272. See also "Old Belgian Tank Locomotives", Locomotive Magazine, Volume XXI [21] (15 February 2018), p. 33

On page 90 of the Jury report is an informative discussion of this particular design. It had a Belpaire firebox that presented a large grate surface and firebox heating area as well, the Jury observes. The driving axle was the rear one, which was located under the firebox.

LM's 1915 report described this engine (then numbered 300) as "rather feeble". Its design wasn't repeated.