Great Indian Peninsula 4-4-0 Locomotives in India

Class B2 (Locobase 20915)

Data from "Passenger Engine and Tender for the Great Peninsula Railway", Vulcan Foundry Locomotive Catalogue, No. 21, at [], (Many thanks to Jorge Cerezo Toledo for his 26 June 2021 email containing links to several sites including the Vulcan Catalogue referred to above.) Works numbers 2646-2653 in 1911.

Class C5 (Locobase 2683)

Data from "Rebuilt Locomotive, GIPR", The Locomotive Magazine, Vol XV (15 February)1909), p. 23.

Tidy looking engine with connected splashers, outside bearings on the leading bogie, inside cylinders and valves and sand boxes on the running board. Kitson & Company delivered the first 25 in 1896 (7) and 1897 (18) with Neilson & Company supplying the other 25 in 1898.

Although they served well, they were soon replaced by larger Atlantic engines.

In 1907, several were rebuilt at Parel shops with Belpaire boilers; see Locobase 10688.

Class C5 - rebuilt (Locobase 10688)

Data from "Rebuilt Locomotive, GIPR", The Locomotive Magazine, Vol XV (15 February)1909), p. 23.

S J Sarjant took on the task of rebuilding the earlier C5 Eight-wheelers (Locobase 2683). He replaced the original boiler with a larger-diameter barrel that held 15 more tubes, had its safety valve set to a higher pressure, and was mated to a Belpaire firebox. Weight increased by 2 1/2 long tons, its distribution settling more heavily on the leading bogie than in the original locomotive. At the same time, according to the LM report, "....heavy cast iron 'drag box' [which Locobase supposes held the drawbar] at the trailing end replaced with a built-up steel structure of special design."

As the length of the boiler did not change and the grate area remained the same, the result was a stubbier looking engine with a shorter dome and stack to fit within the loading gauge. The LM report regarded the result as presenting a "very smart appearance". The white tires on all axles, full cab, coupled splashers, and generally clean lines supported that claim.