Nord 2-2-2 Locomotives in France


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class Clapeyron (Locobase 606)

Data from August Perdonnet et Camille Polonceau, Nouveau Portefeuille de L'Ingenieur des Chemins de Fer, Tome Second (Paris: Librairie Scientifique, Industrielle et Agricole, 1866), pp. 530-531. See also Gustav Reder (Michael Reynolds, trans), The World of Steam Locomotives (New York: Putnam, 1974).

Reder wrote that Clapeyron adapted the "Allan-Crewe" external framing and outside cylinders to a "Longboiler" design with indifferent results. A good feature was the manner in which his frame extended the length of the engine and took the strain of trailing cars. Unfortunately, the firebox still overhung behind the trailing axle and the mediocre "Longboiler" riding qualities remained. Clapeyron later moved the trailing axle behind the firebox, lengthening the wheelbase to 15 ft 1 in.


Class Eugenie (Locobase 9077)

Data from William Fairbairn, Useful Information for Engineers (London: Longmans, Green, & Co, 1866), pp. 132-134 See also "French Express Locomotive by Messrs W Fairbairn and Sons", The Engineer, Volume 129 (2 April 1929), p. 357.

This engine was shown at the 1855 Paris Exhibition as an example of McConnell's short-tube, big-firebox design produced by William Fairbairn. The firebox proper wasn't much bigger, but before the gas could get to the short tubes, it went through a "mixing chamber," a cavity later better known as a combustion chamber. Locobase is most surprised by the large number of small tubes in the boiler.

After the Exhibition, the locomotive went into service on the Nord.


Class unknown (Locobase 11341)

Data from L Chatelier, E Flachat, J Petiet, and C Polonceau, Guide du Mecanicien Constructeur et Conducteur de Machines Locomotives (Paris: Chez Paul Dupont, 1851), pp. 369-370 and tables on 376-387.

These were based on Stephenson's then-current design and were only mediocre in burning the fuel in use when they came on the road. Their performance improved considerably when the railway adopted coke fuel. An extension of the wheelbase from the driving axle to the rear axle by 15.8" (400 mm) and adding counterbalancing improved the locomotive's riding qualities as well.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
ClassClapeyronEugenieunknown
Locobase ID606 9077 11341
RailroadNordNordNord
CountryFranceFranceFrance
Whyte2-2-22-2-22-2-2
Number in Class1
Road Numbers17-50164
GaugeStdStdStd
Number Built1
BuilderHalletteFairbairnCail
Year184618551846
Valve GearStephenson
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)10.50 / 3.2015.49 / 4.72 9.89 / 3.02
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)24,251 / 11,00019,842 / 9000
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)24,251 / 11,00019,842 / 9000
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)52,911 / 24,00049,055 / 22,25147,399 / 21,500
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)28,219 / 12,80030,990 / 14,057
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)77,274 / 35,05178,389 / 35,557
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)1188 / 4.501436 / 5.44
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT) 1.10 / 1 1.50 / 1
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)40 / 2033 / 16.50
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)68.50 / 173983.90 / 213266.10 / 1680
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)97.20 / 670101.50 / 70097.20 / 670
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)14.17" x 23.03" / 360x58514.96" x 22.05" / 380x56014.96" x 22.05" / 380x560
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)5577 / 2529.695075 / 2301.986168 / 2797.76
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 4.35 3.91
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)414 - 1.22" / 31125 - 1.929" / 49
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)13.12 / 46 / 1.8312.47 / 3.80
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)63.48 / 5.90167.75 / 15.5953.91 / 5.01
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)10.22 / 0.9524.96 / 2.32 9.15 / 0.85
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)841 / 78.15885 / 82.23802 / 74.51
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)841 / 78.15885 / 82.23802 / 74.51
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume200.07197.29178.78
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation9932533889
Same as above plus superheater percentage9932533889
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area617017,0275240
Power L1305854542558
Power MT278.00605.99

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