Central do Brasil 4-6-0 Locomotives in Brazil

Class 11 (Locobase 12640)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 25, p. 269. Works numbers were 21109-21110, 21135-21136 in October 1902; 26097-26098 in July 1905; 28070-28072, 28185-28187, 28211-28212 in May 1906; and 28305 in June 1906.

Class 250 (Locobase 10977)

Data from Record of Recent Construction #64 (Baldwin Locomotive Works, 1908), p. 28-29. See also Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University, Volume 30, p. 206, Volume 32, p. 32 and Volume 34, p. 360. Works numbers were 30352, 30435 in March 1907; 32534-32537 in January 1908; 33173 in January 1909; and 34693-34695, 34726-34728 in May 1910.

The Central do Brazil's initial exploration of superheated boilers included the usual changes to a saturated-boiler design. Stephenson link motion was replaced by Walschaert's outside constant-lead radial valve gear and slide valves by 12" piston valves. Apparently influenced by the Canadian Pacific's very active research into superheated locomotion, however, the 250-251 were fitted with a Vaughn superheater.

Results apparently satisfied the management because 11 more were ordered over the next 3 years.

Class 280 (Locobase 4768)

Data from Lionel Wiener, writing in Cassier's Magazine - an engineering monthly, Volume XXXVIII [38], #5, October 1910), p 470. See also Record of Recent Construction #64 (Baldwin Locomotive Works, 1908), p. 28, 31 and "An Interesting Order of Locomotives - Central Railroad of Brazil," Railway Master Mechanic, Volume 31, No. 5 (May 1907), pp. 166-169; and DeGolyer, Volume 30, p. 207. Works numbers were 30544 and 30567.

These were balanced compounds a la Baldwin supplied in April 1907; they were built as individual orders. Connelly's Baldwin list goes to the trouble of insisting that these had two different stroke lengths and that's what is recorded in the specifications. Wiener, on the other hand, specifically states that the strokes were the same. The Record of Recent Construction, which should be seen as definitive, reports two different stroke lengths.

They certainly had Belpaire fireboxes that measured 48 1/4" (1,225 mm) wide. Because of the extra 6 1/2" (165 mm) afforded by the broad gauge, the fireboxes were set above the frames and between the wheels. They also used the Vauclain superheater.

281 was later wrecked in service.

Class 350 (Locobase 13166)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University, Volume 44, p. 63. See also "Ten-Wheel Locomotives for Brazil", Railroad Age Gazette, Volume XLVII [47], No 18 (29 October 1909), pp. 806-807. Works numbers were 33640-33641, 33665-33668 in August 1909.

Three years after the Consolidations shown in Locobase 4166, the EFCB again chose the Baldwin smokebox superheater. RAG's report commented that fitting the Baldwin design in these new engines "indicates that this pattern is particularly adapted to service conditions on the Central of Brazil."

The 350s' cylinders received their steam through 12" (305 mm) piston valves, a relatively large diameter for the metre gauge. Firebox appliances included a brick arch and water bars. A "smoke-deflecting" stack curved back toward the cab, possibly to reduce heat or smoke impacts on tunnel roofs. RAG also noted that the class was delivered with ordinary straight stacks as well.

Locobase cannot say if the EFCB retained the Baldwin superheater throughout the 350s' careers.

Class 39 (Locobase 12186)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 20, p.98. Works numbers were 14689-14694 in February 1896.

This order of Ten-wheelers used Belpaire's design of reversing gear. The spec shows a low adhesion weight that probably grew considerably in service.

A later batch of four shown in Locobase 12297 omitted that feature and increased the driver diameter.

Class 45 (Locobase 12297)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 21, p. 265. Works numbers were 16235-16238 in September 1898.

Almost 3 years after the Central bought a sextet of Tenwheelers (Locobase 12186), it returned to Baldwin for 4 more. The only change was in the driver diameter, which was increased by 2".. Possibly the railroad wanted to keep a tighter schedule on an alignment that included 3% grades and 95-metre curves. Adhesion weight grew and raised the factor of adhesion to a more acceptable (i.e., less slippery) figure.

Class 70 (Locobase 13661)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University, Volume 34, pp. 327-329. Works numbers were 34564-34567 and 34589-34592 in April 1910.