Taiwan Railway 2-8-0 Locomotives in Formosa


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class DT560 (Locobase 3868)

Data from Hiroshi Takagi, both from his website ([link]) and personal communication August 2000.

Information from Ejii Nozawa's web site ([link]) says this batch of engines, identical to the Japanese-built 9600s, was delivered from Alco in 1919-1920.


Class DT580 (Locobase 3869)

Data from Hiroshi Takagi, both from his website ([link]) and personal communication August 2000. See also "JGR Class 9600", Steam Locomotives, Locomotive Wiki at [link], last accessed 20 January 2024. (See Scott Simon, "Formosa's First Nations and the Japanese: from colonial rule to postcolonial resistance", Asia-Pacific Journal, Volume 4, Issue 1 (4 January 2006), archived as [link] , last accessed 20 January 2024.

Information from Ejii Nozawa's web site ([link]) says these were identical to the JNR's 9600s (Locobase 3816) and also were built by Hitatchi, Kawasaki, KSK, and Mitsubishi.

When Japan took over Formosa (fka Taiwan) in 1895, the new rulers adopted a program of modernizaton that included modernizing transportation. Much of Formosa's rolling stock produced during the fifty years of occupation featured Japanese designs produced by Japanese builders.

Thus these DT580 Consolidations repeated the successful JGR Class 9600 descirbed in Locobase 3816.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
ClassDT560DT580
Locobase ID3868 3869
RailroadTaiwan RailwayTaiwan Railway
CountryFormosaFormosa
Whyte2-8-02-8-0
Number in Class1439
Road Numbers
Gauge3'6"3'6"
Number Built1439
BuilderAlcoseveral
Year19191923
Valve GearWalschaertWalschaert
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)29,013 / 13,16029,013 / 13,160
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)116,095 / 52,660116,095 / 52,660
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)131,880 / 59,820131,880 / 59,820
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT)
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)48 / 2448 / 24
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)49 / 124549 / 1245
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)180 / 1240180 / 1240
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)20" x 24" / 508x61020" x 24" / 508x610
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)29,976 / 13596.9029,976 / 13596.90
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 3.87 3.87
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)134 - 2" / 51134 - 2" / 51
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)21 - 5.25" / 13321 - 5.25" / 133
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)13.25 / 4.0413.25 / 4.04
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)107.92 / 10.03107.92 / 10.03
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)24.96 / 2.3224.96 / 2.32
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1413 / 131.321413 / 131.32
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)347 / 32.25347 / 32.25
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1760 / 163.571760 / 163.57
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume161.92161.92
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation44934493
Same as above plus superheater percentage53915391
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area23,31123,311
Power L185508550
Power MT649.45649.45

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