Belfast & County Down 0-6-4 Locomotives in Ireland


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class 29 (Locobase 8028)

Data from "New 0-6-4 Side-Tank Locomotive, Belfast and County Down Ry", Locomotive Magazine, Volume XXIX [29], No. 375 (15 November 1923), p 317. See also W T Scott's article in the Railway Preservation Society's 5-Foot 3 journal, January 1968, reproduced on the web at [link] (accessed 23 December 2006).

Scott saw the 29 on the Northern Counties Committee railway after that railway purchased her from the BCDR in 1949. He comments: "She was certainly a very strong engine of massive appearance accentuated by her very small wheels. I remember seeing her shunt on many occasions and she always impressed me with her competence in handling a big load." A profile that hid all the motion inside except for the coupling rods, tanks that partially hid the Belpaire firebox, full cab, and relatively large bunker behind contributed to the purposeful bulk.

After 1948, 29 was fitted with a larger blastpipe orifice (5" replacing 3 1/2"), which was said to have reduced her 90-lb-per-mile (25.36 kg/km) coal consumption rate. She ran a relatively low number of miles on the NCC, compiling only about 41,000 miles.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
Class29
Locobase ID8028
RailroadBelfast & County Down
CountryIreland
Whyte0-6-4T
Number in Class1
Road Numbers29
Gauge5'3"
Number Built1
BuilderBeyer, Peacock
Year1923
Valve GearStephenson
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)12.50
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)22.67
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.55
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)22.67
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)31,360 / 14,225
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)124,320 / 56,391
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)124,320 / 56,391
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)1620 / 6.14
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT) 3.30 / 3
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)48 / 1219
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)160 / 1100
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)17" x 24" / 432x610
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)19,652 / 8914.01
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort)
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)189 - 1.875" / 0
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)10.42
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)95
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)18 / 1.67
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1064 / 98.88
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1064 / 98.88
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume168.75
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation2880
Same as above plus superheater percentage2880
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area15,200
Power L13124
Power MT

All material Copyright © SteamLocomotive.com
Wes Barris