Cantagallo 0-6-0 Locomotives in Brazil

Class 2 (Locobase 20533)

Data from DeGolyer, Volume 11, p. 159; and "Performance of Baldwin Locomotives on Steep Grades", Railroad Gazette, Volume 15 (28 December 1883), p. 858. Works numbers were 6634 in February 1883, 6640-6641 in March.

Apparently unsatisfied with the Fell system of rack rail, the managers of this Brazilian railway submitted a stiff set of specifications to Baldwin and asked them to deliver three six-coupled tanks to meet them. Among the eye-catching details of the line's profile were no fewer than 90 curves, each as tight as 131 ft radius, within a two-mile (3.2 km) section of line. Maximum grades could reach 8.3% (438 feet per mile or 215 m per km). At least the rail weight of 65 lb/yard (32.5 kg/m) allowed for a relatively large locomotive.

RG reported the arrival of the trio in the Spring, but noted that trials didn't begin until October. One of the three coupled onto three cars loaded with track sleepers and a passenger car making up the desired trailing load and covered the first 5 miles (8 km) between Cochoeira and Boca de Mato, the train averaged 15 mph (24 kph). Then it "easily" made the 8 1/2% grades and curves of the next section. The account added that "had the engineer been more familiar with the working of the engine, he could easily have surmounted a grade of 475 ft per mile [9% or 233 m/km] with the same load."