Tolima 4-8-0 Locomotives in Colombia


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class 13 (Locobase 15368)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University, Volume 78, pp. 170 See also Jorge Arias de Greiff, Un Momento Estelar de la Ingeniera Mecanica en Colombia: Los Disenos de Locomotoras de PC Dewhurst", Boletin Cultural y Bibliographico, Volumne XXVI, No. 21, 1989, pp.19-29. Works number were 58946-58947 in January 1926.

See Locobase 15367 for a full discussion of PC Dewhurst's thoughts in designing the famed "Docerruedas" (Twelve-wheelers). This pair were the third and fourth locomotives in a batch of six ordered at the same time by three Colombian railways. Like the others they had two arch tubes in the firebox that contributed 10 sq ft (0.93 sq m) of direct heating surface area and used 9" (229 mm) piston valves to supply steam to the cylinders.

The Tolima began at the town of Flandes, which lay across the Magdalena from Girardot, in Tolima State. The railroad climbed toward Ibague, which was sited near Quindio Pass, which transited the famed Central Cordillera of Colombia. By 1917 it had been completed to Asiestadero.

The 13 would later be sold to the Ambalema-IbaguT, where it would take road number 8. In 1953, the 8 was taken into the National Railways system as their 74. When the Tolima was combined with the Girardot in 1930

as the Girardot Tolima Huila, the 14 was renumbered 43. Later renumbered again as 40, it received road number 81 when put on the FCN's roster.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
Class13
Locobase ID15368
RailroadTolima
CountryColombia
Whyte4-8-0
Number in Class2
Road Numbers13-14
Gauge3'
Number Built2
BuilderBaldwin
Year1926
Valve GearWalschaert
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)12.50 / 3.81
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)21.92 / 6.68
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.57
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)47.40 / 14.45
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)26,300 / 11,929
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)104,000 / 47,174
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)125,000 / 56,699
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)70,000 / 31,752
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)195,000 / 88,451
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)3300 / 12.50
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT)6 / 6
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)43 / 21.50
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)40 / 1016
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)180 / 1240
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)18" x 22" / 457x559
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)27,265 / 12367.21
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 3.81
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)129 - 2" / 51
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)20 - 5.375" / 137
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)13.83 / 4.22
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)118 / 10.96
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)32.60 / 3.03
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1432 / 133.04
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)305 / 28.34
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1737 / 161.38
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume221.00
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation5868
Same as above plus superheater percentage6924
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area25,063
Power L18828
Power MT748.55

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