2-8-0 Steam Locomotives in Brazil

Usina Catende


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class 12 (Locobase 15447)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University, Vol 79, pp. 274+. See also "Usina Catende" in the Nordeste Encyclopedia at [], last accessed 20 September 2013. Works number was 60872 in June 1929.

Rolling on 21 and 26 kg/metre (42 and 52 lb/yard) rail, this bi-fuel (coal and wood) plantation Consolidation also dealt with 2 1/2% grades. Unsurprisingly, the specs say that the locomotive was "to be built for rough plantation service." Its design was also to be modernized and use a wood-burning stack "adopted [sic] for Brazil but suitable for use with coal as well as wood.

The mill was located about 140 km (87 miles) southwest of Recife along the Pirangi river at an elevation of 153 metres (502 feet) above sea level. It was incorporated as the Correia da Silva in 1890, but failed to return on the investment for decades. Mendes Lima & Cia bought the mill in 1907 and expanded its crushing capacity five-fold from 200 to 1,000 tonnes per day.

In 1927, coronel Ant(nio Ferreira da Costa Azevedo bought out the other members of the syndicate. Two years later, at the time of the 12's delivery, Usina Catende had grown to be one of Brazil's largest. Its railway extended all the way to Recife. It had eleven locomotives and 266 sugar cars. Employing 700 workers, the mill could process 1.500 tonnes of sugar cane or manufacture 4,000 litros (1,057 US gallons) of alcohol in 22 hours.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
Class12
Locobase ID15447
RailroadUsina Catende
CountryBrazil
Whyte2-8-0
Number in Class1
Road Numbers12
GaugeMetre
Number Built1
BuilderBaldwin
Year1929
Valve GearWalschaert
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)12.50 / 3.81
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)20 / 6.10
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.62
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)40.58 / 12.37
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)82,600 / 37,467
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)94,300 / 42,774
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)77,000 / 34,927
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)171,300 / 77,701
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)3700 / 14.02
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT)6 / 6
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)34 / 17
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)43 / 1092
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)160 / 1100
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)17" x 22" / 432x559
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)20,109 / 9121.30
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 4.11
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)180 - 2" / 51
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)11.50 / 3.51
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)103 / 9.57
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)15.70 / 1.46
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1179 / 109.53
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1179 / 109.53
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume203.99
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation2512
Same as above plus superheater percentage2512
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area16,480
Power L13361
Power MT358.82

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