Data from "Chinese Government Railways - Heavy Gradient Haulage on the Peking-Suiyan Railway", Engineer, Volume 135, No 2 (12 January 1923), p. 34; and "Mallet Locomotive, Peking-Suiyan Ry. of China", Locomotive Magazine, Volume XXVIII [28], No. 355 (15 March 1922), p. and "Erecting Mallet Locomotives on the Peking-Suiyuan Railway",Volume XXIX [29] (15 November 1923), pp. 327-328. See also Wiener (1930). Works numbers were 63065-63071 in September-October 1921.
The later of two classes of Alco Mallets built for the Nankou [aka Ningpo] Pass helper service, this was much the bigger of the two. The four 1913 2-8-8-2s appear in Locobase 3562.
In fact, when they were shipped, they were claimed to be the biggest American locomotives to have been exported. LM's November 1923 report noted the original spec (1,000 tons over the Nankou Pass at 10-15 mph/16-24 kph) was cut in half. The pass presented an average 2.5% grade that ran for for between 8-9 miles (12.9-14.5 km).
Certainly the data support the assertion. Weight on the drivers came in 15 tons heavier than the next heaviest non-North American locomotve design; power system weight (engine & loaded tender) topped out at over 341 short tons (309,940 kg or 284 t 19 cwt). Cylinder volume in the four cylinders amounted to 51.41cu ft (1,806 litres), tube length reached 24 ft, overall length reached 94 ft 9 in (28.88 m), tractive effort when started in simple expansion reached 111,000 lb (50,349 kg or 493.75 kN) ...and so on.
The only supplemental heating surface was offered by the 37 sq ft (3.44 sq m) of the arch tubes. An Elvin mechanical stoker took some of the load off the firemen. Respirator hoods like those used by US engine crews in long tunnels were supplied as essential.
The class miraculously survived both the fourteen-year war with Japan and the civil war that began in 1946. Given class ID MA3, the 20-wheelers were retired soon after the Chinese Communists took over in 1949.
Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media | |
---|---|
Class | 201 |
Locobase ID | 3563 |
Railroad | Peking-Suiyuan |
Country | China |
Whyte | 2-8-8-2 |
Number in Class | 7 |
Road Numbers | 201-207 |
Gauge | Std |
Number Built | 7 |
Builder | Alco-Schenectady |
Year | 1921 |
Valve Gear | Walschaert |
Locomotive Length and Weight | |
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m) | 29.50 / 8.99 |
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m) | 53.92 / 16.43 |
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase | 0.55 |
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m) | 85.25 / 25.98 |
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg) | 29,792 / 13,513 |
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg) | 388,500 / 176,221 |
Engine Weight (lbs / kg) | 446,000 / 202,302 |
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg) | 192,300 / 87,226 |
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg) | 638,300 / 289,528 |
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML) | 10,000 / 37.88 |
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT) | 16 / 14.50 |
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m) | 81 / 40.50 |
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort | |
Driver Diameter (in / mm) | 50 / 1270 |
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa) | 220 / 1520 |
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm) | 24" x 28" / 610x711 |
Low Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm) | 38" x 28" / 965x711 |
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg) | 86,238 / 39116.95 |
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) | 4.50 |
Heating Ability | |
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm) | 251 - 2.25" / 57 |
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm) | 48 - 5.5" / 140 |
Flue/Tube length (ft / m) | 24 / 7.32 |
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2) | 352 / 32.70 |
Grate Area (sq ft / m2) | 95 / 8.83 |
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2) | 5538 / 514.50 |
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2) | 1433 / 133.13 |
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2) | 6971 / 647.63 |
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume | 377.74 |
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information) | |
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation | 20,900 |
Same as above plus superheater percentage | 25,289 |
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area | 93,702 |
Power L1 | 10,074 |
Power MT | 457.34 |