Rio Grande do Sul 4-6-0 Locomotives in Brazil


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class 401 (Locobase 20857)

Data from Lionel Wiener, Les chemins de fer du Breñsil (Paris: H. Dunod et E Pinat, Editeurs, 1912), pp. 118-121. Works numbers were 7765-7766 in October 1910,. 7767-7774 in November, and 7775-7777 in December.

These Ten-wheelers were the last of the 67-engine order from Borsig delivered to the Rio Grande do Sul. They came in two versions (saturated boiler in Locobase 20856 and superheated shown here) both using Borsig's patent Hochwald piston valves.

If the saturated engines were exceptionally powerful, these gave "excellent results".


Class Abecha (Locobase 20097)

Data from Lionel Wiener, "Locomotives of the Rio Grande do Sul", Locomotive Magazine, Volume 18 (15 July 1912), p. 146. (Thanks to Teemu Koivumaki whose 2023 email included a comprehensive spreadsheet of Brazilian steam locomotive builders, works numbers, and owners.) Works numbers were 2696 in 1880 and 2600 in 1881.

Built by a Scottish firm but intended for light, twisty conditions and burning low-calorie briquettes, this pair as delivered had the straight lines and plate frame of a British engines and the balloon stack, big headlight, "cowcatcher", and covered footplate of North American locomotives. Sister engine Kelmes arrived in 1882.

Later modification deleted the separate safety valve stand just ahead of the cab, a larger steam dome, small sand box ahead of the dome and a slender stack.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
Class401Abecha
Locobase ID20857 20097
RailroadRio Grande do SulRio Grande do Sul
CountryBrazilBrazil
Whyte4-6-04-6-0
Number in Class132
Road Numbers401-410, 451-4531-2/131-132
GaugeMetreMetre
Number Built132
BuilderBorsigNeilson & Co
Year19101880
Valve GearWalschaertStephenson
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m) 9.46 / 2.88
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)19.96 / 6.0815.58 / 4.75
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.47
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)37.50 / 11.43
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)66,139 / 30,000
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)95,901 / 43,000
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)85,980 / 38,000
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)181,881 / 81,000
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML) / 13
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT) / 5
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)37 / 18.50
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)45 / 114340 / 1016
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)169.70 / 1170130 / 900
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)15.98" x 20" / 406x50813" x 21" / 330x533
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)16,371 / 7425.779804 / 4447.02
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 4.04
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)149 - 2.008" / 51150 - 1.625" / 41
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm) / 148
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)11.48 / 3.50 9.46 / 2.88
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)78.15 / 7.2647 / 4.37
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)21.53 / 210.20 / 0.95
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1307 / 121.45650 / 60.39
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1307 / 121.45650 / 60.39
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume281.52201.48
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation36541326
Same as above plus superheater percentage36541326
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area13,2626110
Power L146542377
Power MT465.40

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