C.F.Vicinaux du Mayumbe Beyer-Garratt Locomotives in Congo

Class A (Locobase 934)

Data from reprint of SA Saint-Leonard data sheet for works numbers 1708-1709, 1715-1716. Works numbers were 1708-1709, 1715-1716 in 1911.

These four Garratts were delivered in batches of two at different times in 1911. This particular variant of an articulated steam locomotive was invented by Herbert Garratt in 1909. He transferred his patent rights to Beyer, Peacock in exchange for a royalty payment from BP, some of the earliest Garratts came from this Belgian builder.

Although it presented the same three-part assembly and four simple-expansion cylinders, this design used a round-top (often known as a Crampton type) boiler. It also burned oil fuel. Later variants shown in Locobases 935, 585, 936 had larger boilers.

Class B (Locobase 935)

Data from Gavin Hamilton's excellent compilation of Garratt data posted at []

(6 September 2005); supplemented by reprint of SA Saint-Leonard data sheet for Code telegraphique: GEFANGNISZ; and A[rthur] E[dward] Durrant, Garratt Locomotives of the World (revised edition) (Newton Abbott, UK: David & Charles, 1981), p. 149-150.. Works numbers were 1899-1900 in 1919, 1953-1956 in 1921, 2021-2025 in 1924.

Small Garratts that added 61more tubes to the boiler compared to the Class A shown in Locobase 934. Also, and perhaps gratifying those who argue Garratts should be regarded as tank locomotives, the Bs introduced additional side tanks on the running boards, stretching from cab front to just short of the smokebox.

Durrant supposed all of the Mayumbe Garratts remained in service until the line dieselized in 1960.

Class C (Locobase 585)

Data from Gavin Hamilton's excellent compilation of Garratt data posted at []

(6 September 2005); supplemented by reprint of SA Saint-Leonard data sheet for Code telegraphique: GEFANGNISZ; and A[rthur] E[dward] Durrant, Garratt Locomotives of the World (revised edition) (Newton Abbott, UK: David & Charles, 1981), p. 172, 176. Works numbers were 2056-2059.

Four industrial Garratts. These were virtually identical to the Bs delivered in 1919 and fitted with side tanks as well. The wuartet offered more firebox heating surface area and slightly larger grate burning wood, an accompanying smoke-arresting stack top, and wood-rack slats above the sides of the rear bunker.

Class E (Locobase 936)

Data from Gavin Hamilton's excellent compilation of Garratt data posted at [] (6 September 2005); and A[rthur] E[dward] Durrant, Garratt Locomotives of the World (revised edition) (Newton Abbott, UK: David & Charles, 1981), pp 150, 176 Works number was 2096 in 1927.

Last Garratt for Vicinaux du Mayumbe in the Belgian Congo..Hamilton identifies this as a Class D, but all the listings show only the E 1. Durrant speculated that a D class referred to a non-articulated locomotive.

Including the side tanks of the earlier Bs and Cs (Locobase 935 and 585), the E tweaked the heating surface area and added wood racks on the tanks ahead of the cab and taller solid sides on the rear bunker.