Gold Coast 4-6-4 Locomotives in Ghana


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class 83 (Locobase 20229)

Data from "Tank Locomotives for the Gold Coast Railway", Engineer, Volume 119, No 9 (26 February 1915), pp. 201; and "4-6-4 Tank Locomotive, Gold Coast Government Rys." Locomotive Magazine, Volume XXI [21] (15 April 1915), p. 77.Works numbers were 1155-1156 in 1913.

Although described as powerful for their size, these tanks were valued at least as much for their flexibility on curvy lines. Much of the design's suppleness came from the lateral play in both leading and trailing bogies, which swung as much as 2 1/2" (64 mm) on either side. To improve crew comfort, Hunslet widened the upper part of the cab sides, shaded the front windows with an extended visor, and sloped the front ends of the complexly shaped side tanks to grant more forward visibility.

LM claimed in April 1915 that the class was "proving highly satisfactory in service, and the design is an excellent example of the best modern practice."

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
Class83
Locobase ID20229
RailroadGold Coast
CountryGhana
Whyte4-6-4T
Number in Class2
Road Numbers83-84
Gauge3'6"
Number Built
BuilderHunslet Engine Co
Year1913
Valve GearWalschaert
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)10.08 / 3.07
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)28.58 / 8.71
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.35
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)28.58 / 8.71
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)66,864 / 30,329
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)130,256 / 59,083
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)2160 / 8.18
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT) 3.30 / 3
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)37 / 18.50
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)40.50 / 1029
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)160 / 1100
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)17" x 20" / 432x508
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)19,409 / 8803.78
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 3.44
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)102 - 1.75" / 44
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)15 - 5" / 127
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)10.33 / 3.15
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)93 / 8.64
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)14 / 1.30
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)777 / 72.19
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)199 / 18.49
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)976 / 90.68
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume147.88
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation2240
Same as above plus superheater percentage2688
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area17,856
Power L16234
Power MT616.64

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