Rede de Viacao Sul Mineira 2-8-0 Locomotives in Brazil


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class 270/435 (Locobase 6708)

Data from DeGolyer, Volume 72, pp.106-+ and [link] (viewed 4 August 2005). Works numbers were 56923-56924 in August 1923 and 57204-57205 in September.

This quartet of wood-burning Consolidations provided a good deal of power for the metre-gauge mining road. Well-endowed with superheat for their size, they used 9" (229 mm) piston valves to admit steam to the cylinders. Compared to other 2-8-0s in similar service, the adhesion weight in particular was considerably higher.

After the first two were delivered, PW Fitzpatrick, assistant manager of Baldwin's Rio de Janeiro office, passed along comments from the Sul Mineira's Fowler of the that illuminate the operational environment and suggest necessary adjustments:

"As the line over the mountain is very heavy grade and short curves [3% grades and 80 metre (262 ft) radius curves], it is very necessary that ther ebe a good system of delivering sand to the rail, as owing to the heavy fogs and dampness that is encountered the rail is generally slippery."

Although the locomotive's relatively high factor of adhesion probably helped to deal with the slick rail, more was needed. Fowler adds: "The sand pipes have been changed on the new engines to give a more direct delivery to the rail, taking out the bends and crooks that they would have as delivered."

Sand wouldn't run through the bends or the long straight sections of pipe in the original setup using either the hand lever or air pressure. So the Sul Mineira moved the pipes to drop the sand nearly straight down to the track between the first and second set of drivers.

Fowler pointed out that relocating the sand box forward (and the bell backward) would allow the sand to fall in front of the first driver, which he admitted was preferred, but its current location led to the change he described.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
Class270/435
Locobase ID6708
RailroadRede de Viacao Sul Mineira
CountryBrazil
Whyte2-8-0
Number in Class4
Road Numbers270-273/435-438
GaugeMetre
Number Built4
BuilderBaldwin
Year1923
Valve GearWalschaert
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)12 / 3.66
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)19.42 / 5.92
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.62
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)47.73 / 14.55
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)27,558 / 12,500
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)109,018 / 49,450
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)116,801 / 52,980
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)68,279 / 30,971
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)185,080 / 83,951
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)3432 / 13
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT)
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)45 / 22.50
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)41.60 / 1057
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)172.60 / 1190
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)18" x 22" / 457x559
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)25,138 / 11402.42
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 4.34
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)110 - 2.008" / 51
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)18 - 5.375" / 137
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)15.75 / 4.80
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)89 / 8.27
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)19.90 / 1.85
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1388 / 128.95
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)342 / 31.77
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1730 / 160.72
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume214.21
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation3435
Same as above plus superheater percentage4122
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area18,434
Power L19070
Power MT733.67

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