Data from ICC Locomotive Diagrams supplied in May 2005 by Allen Stanley from his extensive Rail Data Exchange collection.
Rolling on the Decauville Portable Railway System, these tiny tank locomotives served the ultimately futile effort of a large French company to dig a Panama Canal. They did their job, it seems, pulling up to 275 tons on the level. Their cylinders flanked the boiler just ahead of the cab.As the piston rod moved back and forth, it moved the upper arm of a centrally pivoted member mounted on the frame alongside the smokebox. When the upper arm rocked forward, the lower arm moved back and drove the crank near the hub of the front driver through the lower half of its travel--and vice versa.
Another unusual feature was the placement of the water tank on one side of the cab.
Ten of the engines remained in good enough condition in 1904 for the Isthmian Canal Commission to buy them for $1,200 each.
| Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media | |
|---|---|
| Class | 01 |
| Locobase ID | 20348 |
| Railroad | French Panama Canal Company |
| Country | France |
| Whyte | 0-4-0T |
| Number in Class | 14 |
| Road Numbers | 01-10 |
| Gauge | 50 cm |
| Number Built | 14 |
| Builder | Decauville |
| Year | 1884 |
| Valve Gear | Decauville |
| Locomotive Length and Weight | |
| Driver Wheelbase (ft / m) | 3.08 / 0.94 |
| Engine Wheelbase (ft / m) | 3.08 / 0.94 |
| Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase | 1 |
| Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m) | 3.08 / 0.94 |
| Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg) | |
| Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg) | 10,000 / 4536 |
| Engine Weight (lbs / kg) | 10,000 / 4536 |
| Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg) | |
| Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg) | |
| Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML) | 111 / 0.42 |
| Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT) | |
| Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m) | 8 / 4 |
| Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort | |
| Driver Diameter (in / mm) | 15.90 / 405 |
| Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa) | 100.10 / 690 |
| High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm) | 5.71" x 8.07" / 145x205 |
| Tractive Effort (lbs / kg) | 1408 / 638.66 |
| Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) | 7.10 |
| Heating Ability | |
| Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm) | 39 - 1.732" / 44 |
| Flues (number - dia) (in / mm) | |
| Flue/Tube length (ft / m) | 4.43 / 1.35 |
| Firebox Area (sq ft / m2) | |
| Grate Area (sq ft / m2) | |
| Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2) | 73 / 6.78 |
| Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2) | |
| Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2) | 73 / 6.78 |
| Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume | 305.21 |
| Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information) | |
| Robert LeMassena's Power Computation | |
| Same as above plus superheater percentage | |
| Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area | |
| Power L1 | |
| Power MT | |