Gwalior Light Railways 4-6-0 Locomotives in India


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class 5 (Locobase 10529)

Data from "Locomotives Working the Gwalior Light Railways", The Railway Magazine, (15 September 1905), p.153-154.

This class supplied the Tweedledum locomotives to the 0-6-4 Tweedledees shown in Locobase 10527. The LM report doesn't discuss why the GLR chose the two wheel arrangements, but it's possible that they were seeking the starting power of the adhesion weight leading some engines and the higher tractive effort of the slightly bigger Ten-wheelers. Coal consumption came to 33 1/2 lb per mile run or, as expressed more picturesquely, 6 1/2 ounces per ton-mile.


Class 5 (Locobase 10535)

Data from "Locomotives Working the Gwalior Light Railways", The Railway Magazine, (16 October 1905), p.177. Works numbers were 737-738 in April 1901, 789-791 in 1902, 842-844 in 1903.

Those readers who have inspected Locobase 10155's account of the Duke of Sutherland's railway will recall the comparison of a tank engine to a limousine. If dukes could own personal locomotives, maharajahs could own AND drive them, as did His Highness, "...who is a capable and practical engineer."


Class unknown (Locobase 20472)

Data from "2-8-2 Locomotives, Gwalior Light Railway", Locomotive Magazine, Volume XXII (15 August 1916), p.153-154.

Described as "machines of remarkable capacity for the 24-in gauge", these Mikados had plate frames outside of the wheels to accommodate a larger boiler and grate, Belpaire firebox, piston valves, and full cab.

The four 1928 engines weighed 76,608 lb (34,190 kg), gained increased power from 13 1/2" (343 mm) diameter cylinders, and trailed tenders holding considerably more water and fuel.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
Class55unknown
Locobase ID10529 10535 20472
RailroadGwalior Light RailwaysGwalior Light RailwaysGwalior Light Railways
CountryIndiaIndiaIndia
Whyte4-6-04-6-04-6-0
Number in Class88
Road Numbers5-125-1218
Gauge2'2'2'
Number Built88
BuilderKerr, Stuart & CoKerr, Stuart & CoKerr, Stuart & Co
Year190419041915
Valve GearStephensonStephensonWalschaert
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m) 9.75 / 2.97
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)20.25 / 6.17
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.48
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)22.08 / 6.7322.08 / 6.7336.20 / 11.03
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)30,800 / 13,97120,384 / 924653,760 / 13,971
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)40,040 / 18,16229,120 / 13,20973,920 / 33,530
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)20,496 / 929719,040 / 863635,840 / 16,257
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)60,536 / 27,45948,160 / 21,845109,760 / 49,787
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)600 / 2.271380 / 5.23
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT)
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)17 / 8.5011 / 5.5030 / 15
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)27 / 68630 / 76233 / 838
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)175 / 1210140 / 970180 / 1240
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)10" x 15" / 254x3818" x 15" / 203x38112" x 18" / 305x457
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)8264 / 3748.493808 / 1727.2812,017 / 5450.83
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 3.73 5.35 4.47
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)99 - 1.625" / 4175 - 1.75" / 44130 - 1.875" / 48
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)12.75 / 3.89
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)35 / 3.2529 / 2.7083.50 / 7.76
Grate Area (sq ft / m2) 7.50 / 0.705 / 0.46 7.50 / 0.70
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)361 / 33.55276 / 25.65900 / 83.61
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)361 / 33.55276 / 25.65900 / 83.61
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume264.75316.27381.97
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation13137001350
Same as above plus superheater percentage13137001350
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area6125406015,030
Power L1309633775536
Power MT664.821095.71681.07

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