Data from "Class YL, Type 2-6-2, Service Light Passenger, Gauge Metre" diagram supplied by Vinoo Mathur in his 1 December 2025 installment Post Independence Standard MG Class Locomotives on the railenthusiastindia website at [], last accessed 9 November 2025. Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns works numbers (10) were 7434-7443 in 1952. Henschel & Sohn works numbers (151) were 29831-29531 in 1956. Hitachi works numbers (63) were 12291-12353 in 1956. MAVAG works numbers (40) were 7452-7511 in 1957
One of several standard designs for the Indian metre gauge that succeed the 1920s IRS YF 2-6-2. Not an attractive design with its cylindrical boiler mounted on a pedestal, the steam pipes to the cylinders masked in rectangular housings, the Belpaire firebox entirely above the running board.
But beauty is as beauty does and these Prairies remained in service until the end of steam in 1976.
| Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media | |
|---|---|
| Class | YL |
| Locobase ID | 2498 |
| Railroad | India Government Railways |
| Country | India |
| Whyte | 2-6-2 |
| Number in Class | 264 |
| Road Numbers | 5000-2163 |
| Gauge | Metre |
| Number Built | 264 |
| Builder | several |
| Year | 1952 |
| Valve Gear | Walschaert |
| Locomotive Length and Weight | |
| Driver Wheelbase (ft / m) | 8.33 / 2.54 |
| Engine Wheelbase (ft / m) | 21.33 / 6.50 |
| Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase | 0.39 |
| Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m) | 43.85 / 13.37 |
| Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg) | 18,032 / 8179 |
| Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg) | 53,536 / 24,284 |
| Engine Weight (lbs / kg) | 85,680 / 38,864 |
| Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg) | 73,920 / 33,530 |
| Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg) | 159,600 / 72,394 |
| Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML) | 3600 / 13.64 |
| Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT) | 4.50 / 4.10 |
| Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m) | 30 / 15 |
| Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort | |
| Driver Diameter (in / mm) | 43 / 1092 |
| Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa) | 210 / 1430 |
| High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm) | 12.25" x 22" / 311x559 |
| Tractive Effort (lbs / kg) | 13,705 / 6216.49 |
| Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) | 3.91 |
| Heating Ability | |
| Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm) | 49 - 2" / 51 |
| Flues (number - dia) (in / mm) | 13 - 5.25" / 133 |
| Flue/Tube length (ft / m) | 10 / 3.05 |
| Firebox Area (sq ft / m2) | 86.90 / 8.07 |
| Grate Area (sq ft / m2) | 17.75 / 1.65 |
| Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2) | 522 / 48.50 |
| Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2) | 130 / 12.08 |
| Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2) | 652 / 60.58 |
| Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume | 173.94 |
| Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information) | |
| Robert LeMassena's Power Computation | 3728 |
| Same as above plus superheater percentage | 4473 |
| Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area | 21,899 |
| Power L1 | 10,664 |
| Power MT | 1317.44 |