2-6-4 Steam Locomotives in India

Indian State


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class BESA/PTS (Locobase 21278)

Data from "Class PT/S B.E.S.A 5-6 Gauge, 2-6-4 Passenger Locomotive Diagram No. 29" supplied by Vindoo Mathur in the 27 November 2020 entry in his railenthusiast series at [], last accessed 9 November 2025.

Locobase 4248 describes the 1910 variant of the British Engineering Standards Association (BESA) series of standard designs for Indian railways implemented in the first decade of the 20th century. Slightly more than a decade later, the Bombay, Baroda & Central India updated the BESA design with the assistance of Armstrong Whitworth by enlarging the cylinders and fitting a superheater. The Belpaire firebox's grate area increased as did total direct heating surface area.

Six years later, the BB&CI sold seven of the class to the Indian State Railways.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
ClassBESA/PTS
Locobase ID21278
RailroadIndian State
CountryIndia
Whyte2-6-4T
Number in Class7
Road Numbers520-521, 515, 519, 530-531
Gauge5'6"
Number Built
BuilderISR
Year1922
Valve GearStephenson
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)13 / 3.96
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)34.25 / 10.44
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.38
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)34.25 / 10.44
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)39,872 / 18,086
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)119,504 / 54,206
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)197,120 / 89,412
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)3000 / 11.36
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT) 5.78 / 5.30
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)66 / 33
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)61.50 / 1562
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)160 / 1090
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)20" x 26" / 508x660
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)22,998 / 10431.73
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 5.20
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)121 - 2" / 51
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)21 - 5.25" / 133
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)11.37 / 3.47
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)150 / 13.94
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)27 / 2.51
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1195 / 111.02
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)260 / 24.15
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1455 / 135.17
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume126.40
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation4320
Same as above plus superheater percentage5098
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area28,320
Power L17433
Power MT411.37

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