Tropical Oil Company 2-6-2 Locomotives in Colombia


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class 2 (Locobase 15075)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University, Volume 66, pp. 138. Works numbers were 56328 in March 1923 and 60084 in June 1927.

Little oil-burning Prairies bought on behalf of the Troco, which by that time had been taken over by the International Petroleum Company. The railway offered challenges in the form of 80-metre curve radii (262 feet) or 22 degrees on the main line and 50 metre radii (164 feet) or 35 1/2 degrees in the yards. Grades inclined as much as 4%. Rail weight was a slender 45 lb/yard (22.5 kg/metre).

The 5 was sold to Santander and was renumbered 2. Still bearing that number, the 2 later operated for the Cucuta.


Class 4 (Locobase 15377)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Vol 78, p. 180. See Locobase 15075 for a brief description of the "Troco". Works number was 58844 in November 1925.

Essentially identical to the 1904 tank supplied to United Fruit's 3-foot gauge line in Guatemala (Locobase 12725), this locomotive generated more tractive effort through higher boiler pressure, had a slightly larger grate thanks to the wider gauge, and acutated its valves with outside constant-lead radial valve gear.

After a long career, the 4 was preserved at Trocha.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
Class24
Locobase ID15075 15377
RailroadTropical Oil CompanyTropical Oil Company
CountryColombiaColombia
Whyte2-6-22-6-2T
Number in Class21
Road Numbers2, 54
GaugeMetreMetre
Number Built21
BuilderBaldwinBaldwin
Year19231925
Valve GearStephensonWalschaert
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)9 / 2.74 7.50 / 2.29
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)23.83 / 7.2620.75 / 6.32
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.38 0.36
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)44.29 / 13.5020.75 / 6.32
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)64,000 / 29,03039,000 / 17,690
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)84,000 / 38,10257,000 / 25,855
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)49,000 / 22,226
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)133,000 / 60,32857,000 / 25,855
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)2200 / 8.331000 / 3.79
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT)900 / 3407400 / 1514
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)36 / 1822 / 11
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)40 / 101633 / 838
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)190 / 1310180 / 1240
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)14" x 20" / 356x50810" x 16" / 254x406
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)15,827 / 7179.017418 / 3364.75
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 4.04 5.26
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)145 - 2" / 5170 - 1.75" / 44
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)13.50 / 4.1110.08 / 3.07
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)74 / 6.8842 / 3.90
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)18.40 / 1.71 8.70 / 0.81
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1093 / 101.58363 / 33.74
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1093 / 101.58363 / 33.74
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume306.73249.58
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation34961566
Same as above plus superheater percentage34961566
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area14,0607560
Power L152003900
Power MT537.38661.39

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