0-8-0 Steam Locomotives in India

North Western


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class IRS/XG (Locobase 4268)

Data from "'XG' Indian Standard (0-8-0) Type Locomotive" Superheater Company, featuring a Beyer, Peacock & Co; and "Indian Railways classes XG and XG/M", Loco-info.com at [], last accessed 5 April 2026. Design credited to Messrs Bender, Palmer & Tritton.

Part of a series of Indian Railway Standard designs created in the mid-1920s to meet Indian railway requirements. This was the larger of two all-adhesion eight-coupled freight design. MLS superheater, multi-valve regulator type header.

According to S. Shankar of India's National Rail Museum website -- [] -- these engines operated as heavy switchers (hump shunters) on the North Western Railway of India. Their heavy weight caused so much damage to the track that they were converted to a 2-8-2 arrangement in 1943; see Locobase 21328.

[] notes that these had "...a wider firebox and other improvements to handle low-grade coal."

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
ClassIRS/XG
Locobase ID4268
RailroadNorth Western
CountryIndia
Whyte0-8-0
Number in Class3
Road Numbers911-913
Gauge5'6"
Number Built3
BuilderBeyer, Peacock
Year1928
Valve GearWalschaert
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)15.17 / 4.62
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)15.17 / 4.62
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase1
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)203,840 / 92,460
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)203,840 / 92,460
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)5400 / 20.45
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT) 8.80 / 8
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)85 / 42.50
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)51 / 1295
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)180 / 1240
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)23.5" x 28" / 597x711
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)46,389 / 21041.72
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 4.39
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)150 - 2.25" / 57
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)36 - 5.25" / 133
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)16.50 / 5.03
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)186 / 17.28
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)41.50 / 3.86
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)2453 / 227.89
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)605 / 56.21
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)3058 / 284.10
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume174.51
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation7470
Same as above plus superheater percentage8964
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area40,176
Power L19609
Power MT415.70

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