4-8-4 Steam Locomotives in Chile

Anglo-Chilean Nitrate


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class 18 (Locobase 13597)

Data from Charles Rous-Martens, "British Locomotives for Abroad", Page's Magazine, Volume III, No 2 (August 1903), p. 117; and "Anglo-Chilian [sic] Nitrate & Railway Type 4-8-4", Locomotives Constructed by Kitson & Co. Limited (Leeds, UK: n.d). Works numbers were 4108-4109 in 1902.

One of the first rigid-wheelbase locomotives with eight axles (four adhesion, four truck), this locomotive clearly aimed at spreading the weight over a lot of bearing points.Their rigid wheelbase measured 6 feet 8 inches (2.03 m) and they were rated to pull a gross load of 85 long tuns up a 4% grade.


Class Class 97 (Locobase 20844)

Data from "Heavy Tank Locomotives, Nitrate Rys", Locomotive Magazine, Volume XXX [30], Whole No. 383 (15 July 1924), p.199. Works numbers were 1941-1946 in 1924.

This powerful design was meant for 1 in 25 (4%) grades and relatively tight curves of 280 ft radius. Its "over-square" cylinders received its superheated steam through 11" (279 mm) piston valves. As 4-8-4 tank locomotives went, this engine fell in the middle as far as weight was concerned. Its drivers, almost the smallest possible, certainly served requirements in the Andes.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
Class18Class 97
Locobase ID13597 20844
RailroadAnglo-Chilean Nitrate (Tocopilla al Toco Ry)Anglo-Chilean Nitrate (Tocopilla al Toco Ry)
CountryChileChile
Whyte4-8-4T4-8-4T
Number in Class26
Road Numbers18-1997-102/101-106
Gauge3'6"Std
Number Built26
BuilderKitson & CoYorkshire Engine
Year19021924
Valve GearStephensonWalschaert
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)8 / 2.4412 / 3.66
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)28 / 8.53
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.29
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)28 / 8.53
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)73,920 / 33,530
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)115,360 / 52,326250,880 / 113,797
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)2485 / 6.824080 / 15.45
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT) 2.20 / 2.501200 / 1090.90
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)31 / 15.50
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)38.50 / 97842 / 1067
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)160 / 1100180 / 1240
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)17" x 21" / 432x53322" x 20" / 559x508
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)21,439 / 9724.5835,263 / 15995.05
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 3.45
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)154 - 2" / 51
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)22 - 5.375" / 137
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)15.96 / 4.86
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)93.15 / 8.65164 / 15.24
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)16 / 1.4939.75 / 3.69
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)970 / 90.121945 / 180.70
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)362 / 33.63
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)970 / 90.122307 / 214.33
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume175.82221.04
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation25607155
Same as above plus superheater percentage25608300
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area14,90434,243
Power L126728624
Power MT318.76

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