Guayaquil & Quito Articulated Locomotives in Ecuador


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class 17 (Locobase 12961)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 28, p. 59 . Works numbers were 25870 in May 1905, 25959 in June.

Grades and curves on this railway were among the most challenging in the world (see Locobase 10073 for details) and engineers on the GaQ struggled to find the right balance of flexibility and power to tackle the profile. These two Mallets' answer to the specification used two short wheelbase engines under a Belpaire firebox and boiler. LP cylinders led the front engine, HP cylinders powered the rear one.

They were not regarded as a great success, probably because the lack of any steering trucks limited their speed. In the following year, Baldwin would produce an octet of powerful narrow-gauge Consolidations that tried a different combination; see Locobase 12960.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class17
Locobase ID12961
RailroadGuayaquil & Quito
CountryEcuador
Whyte0-6-6-0
Number in Class2
Road Numbers17-18
Gauge3'6"
Number Built2
BuilderBurnham, Williams & Co
Year1905
Valve GearWalschaert
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m) 6.83 / 2.08
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)20.33 / 6.20
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.34
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)110,000 / 49,895
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)110,000 / 49,895
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)70,000 / 31,752
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)180,000 / 81,647
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)3500 / 13.26
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT)
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)31 / 15.50
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)37 / 940
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)200 / 13.80
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)12.5" x 20" / 318x508
Low Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)19" x 20" / 483x508
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)20,042 / 9090.91
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 5.49
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)155 - 2" / 51
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)15.50 / 4.72
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)106 / 9.85
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)18 / 1.67
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1357 / 126.12
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1357 / 126.12
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume477.70
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation3600
Same as above plus superheater percentage3600
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area21,200
Power L13546
Power MT426.41

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