Usambarabahn 2-8-0 Locomotives in German_East_Africa

Class 15 (Locobase 20092)

Data from W E Robinson, Dr. K O Bertling, and O Eckenstein (translators), "Orenstein & KoppelvArthur Koppel, Limited.", Modern Railway Practice: A Treatise on the Modern Methods of the Construction and Working of German Railways, Volume 1 (London: Reimar Hobbing, 1914), p.12. See also Roel Ramaer, The German period of East Africa, 1890-1918 in Gari la Moshi: Steam Locomotives of the East African Railways, reviewed at [], last accessed 13 August 2013.

Ramaer's description of this private line in what is present-day Tanzania notes that it was capitalized in 1893 with two million marks. The small amount meant that the line was lightly laid with rails weighing only 15 kg/m (31 lb/yard) allowing only a low axle load and including a 1 in 40 (2 1/2%) ruling grade. "Not really the distinguishing points of a substantial railway," Ramaer comments.

He continues by focusing on a particular shortcoming of a dietary nature: "[T]he wooden sleepers started almost at once to give trouble. Leached by sun and rain, and savoured as delicacies by East African termites, they were shipped to Germany to be pressure-creosoted. The only result was that the termites now felt they got real sandwiches instead of dry bread and reacted accordingly." The solution:"Only a change to steel sleepers solved the problem satisfactorily."

The O&K engine was suited for more substantial underpinnings and was delivered considerably later. Its rated speed was 45 kph (28 mph). To negotiate tight 70-m curves, two of the axles used the Golsdorf system to allow lateral play.