4-6-0 Steam Locomotives in Chile

FC de Chanarcillo


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class 22 (Locobase 9961)

Data from T W Armstrong, Facts and Opinions: Regarding the Economical Construction and Working of Railways of Narrow Gauge with Steep Gradients and Sharp Curves, when Worked with an Improved Class of Engine and Rolling Stock, self-published, 1870. pp. 68-72. See also Martin Coombs, Chilean steam locomotive list, Part 2, Standard, 4' 6", 4' 2" and 3' 6" locos, 2018, pp. 31-34 downloaded from []. Works numbers 1093-1094 in 1860, 1324 in 1863.

The Copiapo ran from Chanarcillo [~n] over the summit at Molle (4,450 ASL) to Pabellon, which itself was 2,200 ft above Chanarcillo. An ordinary train consisted of 37 tons of mineral trucks and 13 tons of passenger carriages. The ruling grade was 1 in 23 (4%).

After pursuing alternate sources, Locobase relies on Martin Coombs's estimable work on Chilean railroads. He in turn based much of his information on FC de Copiapo Railway reports for 1868 and 1869. Locobase notes that the Hawthorn list created by Dipl Ing Schmeiser (supplied by Allen Stanley) does not list any buyer for works numbers 1093 through 1095, a gap into which fall those given in Coombs's writeup.

When taken over by the Copiapo in 1868, the trio's new owners described them as "in poor condition" for locomotives that needed to scale the steep inclines and because their fuel consumption was too high. Pabellon (road 22) received a new firebox, which apparently contributed to its 50% improvement in hauling tonnage up the Charancillo line. The report added that 23-24 would receive new fireboxes.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
Class22
Locobase ID9961
RailroadFC de Chanarcillo
CountryChile
Whyte4-6-0
Number in Class3
Road Numbers22-24
GaugeStd
Number Built3
BuilderR & W Hawthorn
Year1860
Valve GearStephenson
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)8 / 2.44
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)13.50 / 4.11
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.59
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)53,760 / 24,385
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)71,680 / 32,514
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)56,000 / 25,401
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)127,680 / 57,915
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)1200 / 4.55
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT) 1.10 / 1
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)30 / 15
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)48 / 1219
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)115 / 780
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)16" x 24" / 406x610
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)12,512 / 5675.35
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 4.30
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)161 - 1.875" / 48
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)11.75 / 3.58
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)75 / 6.97
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)14.25 / 1.32
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1001 / 93
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1001 / 93
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume179.23
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation1639
Same as above plus superheater percentage1639
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area8625
Power L12267
Power MT278.90

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