Burma Mines 2-6-2 Locomotives in Burma


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class unknown (Locobase 21033)

Data from "Narrow-Gauge Locomotives for the Burma Mines Railway", Locomotive Magazine, Volume XXIX [29] (15 February 1923), p. 35. Works numbers were 2164 in March 1922, 2165 in April, and 2179 in July.

Although scanty in the power details, the LM report gives us a full picture of the challenges awaitng this Prairie trio. So narrow was the rail spacing that the wheels lay within the frames and the cranks outside. Piston valves served the cylinders and fuel burned in a squared-up Belpaire firebox.

They pulled trains of ore from the Bawdwin mines to the junction at Manpwe, where they met the Kunlong main line. The 51 miles (82 km) featured a permanent way laid with 41 1/4 lb/yard (20.4 kg/m) rail. Ruling grade rose to a seriously challenging 4% and curves bent to a minimum 90-ft radius.

Over this, Burma Mines reported, "these engines are working most satisfactorily, take the S curves of 90-ft radius extremely well, and haul very heavy loads."

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Classunknown
Locobase ID21033
RailroadBurma Mines
CountryBurma
Whyte2-6-2
Number in Class3
Road Numbers26-28
Gauge2'
Number Built3
BuilderWG Bagnall
Year1922
Valve GearWalschaert
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)6 / 1.83
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)17.75 / 5.41
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.34
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)33.90 / 10.33
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)53,760 / 24,385
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)67,200 / 30,481
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)40,320 / 18,289
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)107,520 / 48,770
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)1488 / 5.64
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT)
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)30 / 15
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)30 / 762
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)160 / 11
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)13" x 16" / 330x406
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)12,258 / 5560.14
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 4.39
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation
Same as above plus superheater percentage
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area
Power L1
Power MT

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