Tientsin-Pukow 2-6-0 Locomotives in China

Class 15 (Locobase 11450)

Data from "Mogul Locomotives for the Tientsin-Pukow Railway, China" The Railway Age Gazette, Volume XLVIII, No 9 (4 March 1910), pp. 442-443; and DeGolyer, Volume 34, p. 321+. Works numbers were 34152-34153 in January 1910.

RAG noted that the frame design reflected European practice and consisted of deep plates between which (and above the rear axle) the firebox could be placed. Noting the amalgam of US and European practice, RAG's report concludes:

"In general outline these engines present an pleasing appearance. They are simple in construction, and as the valve motion is entirely outside the wheels, the plate frames in no way prevent access to the working parts. The engines combine, to a marked degree, the flexibility of the American locomotive, with various structural features which are characteristica of European practice."

A somewhat ominous "Hereafter" note mentioned a 28 April 1913 letter from W D Herzeg "covering criticism of locomotives now in use in China." (But was it directed at Baldwin engines or was the disaffection more general?)

See Locobase 20905 for the North British 2-6-0s built to the same specifications.

Class unknown (Locobase 20905)

Data from Thomas Reece, "United Kingdom Locomotive Notes", Railway Master Mechanic, Volume 34, No 9 (September 1910), p. 406. Works numbers were 34152-34153 in January 1910.

British and American locomotive builders served markets in most of the world's countries and regions. Often the two nations' journalists took the opportunity to compare locomotives built to the same spec. In this case, John Alston, locomotive superintendent of the TPR drew up the specifications. Comparison with Baldwin's pair of Mogules supplied by Baldwin and described in Locobase 11450 shows how the two major builders readily conformed to such requirements.

Both used outside constant-lead radial valve gear and fitted Belpaire fireboxes. The power dimensions were identical as were the grate area and tender capacities and weights; total evaporative heating surface differs by 18 sq ft.. Although Reece doesn't supply the NBLC engines' adhesion weight, their engine weight closely tracks with that of the Baldwins. So, weight on the drivers probably came close to 101,000 lb (45,813 kg).