Jamaican Government Railway / West India Improvement Company 4-4-0 Locomotives in Jamaica


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class 20 (Locobase 20720)

Data from P C Dewhurst, "The Jamaica Government Railway and its Locomotives", Locomotive Magazine, Volume 25 (15 September 1919), p. 153-154. Works number was 4909 in 1893.

This lone Eight-wheeler featured very unusual long-stroke cylinder dimensions. Its radial truck was centered on a point just behind the truck's rear axle with its weight on the center of the truck transferred to the centerline under the smokebox by a slipper that recentered when leaving curves using inclined planes.

It was otherwise an unexceptional example of North American locomotive design in the 1890s. It never received a new boiler and was withdrawn in 1915.


Class 9 (Locobase 20715)

Data from P C Dewhurst, "The Jamaica Government Railway and its Locomotives", Locomotive Magazine, Volume 25 (15 July 1919), p. 108. Works numbers were 3124-3127 in 1889.

After the two 2-2-2s of 1844 shown in Locobase 20709, this quartet of Eight-wheelers were the next locomotives with separate tenders delivered to Jamaican railways. According to Dewhurst, these were "well up-to-date" with cylinder saddles on which to rest the cylindrical firebox, swing-link bogie, and steam sanding gear. Both lever and screw reversing gear were provided.

The original steam brake mounted only on the locomotive was replaced in 1901-1902 with an air brake system. At the same time, air sanding replaced steam sanders.

11 was later shipped from Kingston on the southeast coast to Port Antonio on the northeast coast to support construction in the mountains. This was during the West India Improvement Company era beginning in 1889.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
Class209
Locobase ID20720 20715
RailroadWest India Improvement Company (JGR)Jamaican Government Railway
CountryJamaicaJamaica
Whyte4-4-04-4-0
Number in Class14
Road Numbers209-12
GaugeStdStd
Number Built14
BuilderRogersKitson & Co
Year18931889
Valve GearStephensonStephenson
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m) 8.25 / 2.51
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)22.54 / 6.8712.08 / 3.68
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.37
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)63,840 / 28,95747,600
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)94,000 / 42,63870,000 / 18,289
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)67,225 / 30,49338,640 / 40,794
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)161,225 / 73,131108,640 / 59,083
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)3000 / 11.361200 / 4.55
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT) 4.95 / 5
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)53 / 26.5040 / 20
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)62 / 157554 / 1372
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)180 / 1240150 / 1030
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)16" x 26" / 406x66015" x 22" / 381x559
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)16,425 / 7450.2611,688 / 5301.59
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 3.89 4.07
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)179 - 2" / 51128 - 1.75" / 44
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)10.92 / 3.3310.33 / 3.15
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)119 / 11.0668 / 6.32
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)15.50 / 1.4414 / 1.30
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1143 / 106.19672 / 62.43
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1143 / 106.19672 / 62.43
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume188.91149.34
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation27902100
Same as above plus superheater percentage27902100
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area21,42010,200
Power L153433036
Power MT369.03281.23

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