Oeste de Minas 4-4-0 Locomotives in Brazil


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class 20 (Locobase 12027)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Vol 17, p. 248. Works numbers were 12644, 12656, 12666 in May 1892.

Names for these Vauclain compound Eight-wheelers were Joaquim Castro, Hermilio Alves, and Alberto Isaacson. They had 6 1/8"(155 mm) piston valves.


Class 46 (Locobase 13248)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University, Volume 32, p 264. Works numbers were 32877-32878 in July 1908, 38007-38009 in July 1912.

Ordered at the same time as the pair of Consolidations, this set of Eight-wheelers was bound for passenger service. Its drivers were of the same diameter, but the engine had less cylinder volume. The specs reflect the differences. Its average speed was to be 19 mph and it was to pull 80 trailing long tons up a 2 1/2% grade and around 230-ft radius curves.

Their railway would be combined and renamed several times, first to the Rede Mineira de Viacao (RMdeV) in 1931, then the Vasconcelandia Curtiba (VFCO) in 1955.


Class Cyriaco do Amaral (Locobase 12198)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 20, p 133. Works number was 14820-14821 in May 1896.

These two Eight-wheelers (#8 bore the name Francisco de Sa) were built at the same time as the 2-8-0 described in Locobase 12197, but were considerably smaller. Locobase finds it curious that the specs for this locomotive are so ...specific about the tonnage ratings for these relatively puny engines and do not describe similar expectations for the Consolidation.

On the level, the 4-4-0 was expected to pull 650 tons. Up a 1/2% grade, the load drops to 252 tons, 1% means 148 tons, 1 1/2% 103 tons, 2% 73 tons; 2 1/2% 65 tons, and 3% 43 tons. Rail weight was given as 50 lb/yard.


Class Eleuzina Barbosa (Locobase 20704)

Data from DeGolyer, Volume 18, p. 161. Works numbers were 13240, 13246 in February 1893.

Locomotives of nearly every kind would use Vauclain's four-cylinder compound design. But few if any would use such small (7"/179 mm) piston valves to supply steam to each pair of 1 HP and 1 LP cylinders. The second locomotive was named Emilia Rocha.

Baldwin's specification contained the railway's request to increase the weight to 40,000 lb, if possible and to fit "heavy" components such as footplates, running boards, equalizing beams, ash pans, and pedestal caps. The suggestions the request was repeated for the 1893 Columbian Exposition display engine completed two months later (Locobase 11180).

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
Class2046Cyriaco do AmaralEleuzina Barbosa
Locobase ID12027 13248 12198 20704
RailroadOeste de MinasOeste de MinasOeste de MinasOeste de Minas
CountryBrazilBrazilBrazilBrazil
Whyte4-4-04-4-04-4-04-4-0
Number in Class3522
Road Numbers20-2246-48 / 20-227-8 /1-2
Gauge2'6"MetreMetreMetre
Number Built3522
BuilderBurnham, Williams & CoBurnham, Williams & CoBurnham, Williams & CoBurnham, Williams & Co
Year1892190818961893
Valve GearStephensonWalschaertStephensonStephenson
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m) 7.33 / 2.23 5.50 / 1.68 7.17 / 2.19 8.17 / 2.49
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)18.67 / 5.6916 / 4.8818.25 / 5.5621.25 / 6.48
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.39 0.34 0.39 0.38
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)38.54 / 11.75
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)34,000 / 15,42239,000 / 17,69026,000 / 11,79337,020 / 16,792
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)52,000 / 23,58757,000 / 25,85539,000 / 17,69058,320 / 26,454
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)37,000 / 16,78351,433 / 23,330
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)94,000 / 42,638109,753 / 49,784
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)1200 / 4.551800 / 6.821800 / 6.822000 / 7.58
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT)5 / 5
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)28 / 1433 / 16.5022 / 1131 / 15.50
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)33 / 83838 / 96543 / 109249.25 / 1251
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)180 / 1240160 / 1100135 / 930180 / 1240
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)7.5" x 16" / 191x40612" x 18" / 305x45712" x 16" / 305x4069" x 20" / 229x508
Low Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)13" x 16" / 330x40615" x 20" / 381x508
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)6261 / 2839.959277 / 4207.986148 / 2788.697401 / 3357.04
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 5.43 4.20 4.23 5.00
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)182 - 1.75" / 4488 - 2" / 51112 - 1.5" / 38140 - 2" / 51
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flue/Tube length (ft / m) 9.58 / 2.9214 / 4.27 8.81 / 2.6910.83 / 3.30
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)66 / 6.1339 / 3.6253 / 4.9373 / 6.78
Grate Area (sq ft / m2) 9.50 / 0.8813.70 / 1.27 9.10 / 0.8510 / 0.93
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)865 / 80.39680 / 63.17440 / 40.89862 / 79.99
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)865 / 80.39680 / 63.17440 / 40.89862 / 79.99
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume1057.30288.60210.08585.35
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation1710219212291800
Same as above plus superheater percentage1710219212291800
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area11,8806240715513,140
Power L14813376332574432
Power MT624.17425.44552.34527.87

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