Taltal Kitson-Meyer Locomotives in Chile


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class 51 (Locobase 3622)

Data from Wiener (1930). Works numbers were 4432-4434 in 1906; 4504-4506 and 4512-4514 in 1907.

Virtually identical to Kitson-Meyer locomotives delivered to Anglo-Chilean Nitrate and the Colombian National railway. All were very satisfactory in the mountainous terrain and tight curves of these mineral roads.

Taltal's main line was 169 miles long and presented grades of up to 4.8% as it climbed from 39 ft above sea level at Taltal on the coast to 9,216 ft ASL at Bianca-Estella just 83.3 miles away. The locomotives also rode on very light rail (originally 41 lb per yard, later upgraded to 56.5 lb per yard).

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
Class51
Locobase ID3622
RailroadTaltal
CountryChile
Whyte0-6-0+0-6-0T
Number in Class9
Road Numbers51-56
Gauge3'6"
Number Built9
BuilderKitson & Co
Year1906
Valve Gear
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)12.40 / 1.89
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)25.56 / 7.79
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.49
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)138,432 / 62,792
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)138,432 / 62,792
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT)
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)38 / 19
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)35 / 889
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)162.40 / 1120
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)14" x 18" / 356x457 (4)
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)27,829 / 12623.04
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 4.97
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)192 - 1.89" / 48
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)11.06 / 3.37
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)106.52 / 9.90
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)24.61 / 2.29
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1144 / 106.32
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1144 / 106.32
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume178.36
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation3997
Same as above plus superheater percentage3997
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area17,299
Power L12476
Power MT236.59

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