Jamaican Government 4-8-2 Locomotives in Jamaica


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class Duchess of York/K-1 (Locobase 12789)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 54, pp 283; Baldwin "Negatives 5955 and 5956"- Class 14-32-1/4-E, 1" Baldwin Locomotive Works data card supplied by Alexander Blessing in his 15 October 2024 email; and "Locomotives Recently Built for Export", Railway Review, Volume 59, No 10 (16 September 1916), pp. 318-319. See also P C Dewhurst, "The Jamaica Government Railway and its Locomotives", Locomotive Magazine, Volume 25 (15 December 1919), pp. 212-213. (Blessing's email pointed to needed corrections of the driver and engine&tender wheelbases, and adhesion, engine, tender weights.)Works numbers were 43559-43560 in June 1916.

Comparing Baldwin's specification sheet with the later data card reveals that Eddystone's weight estimates came in a bit high at 120,00 lb (54,431 kg) for the drivers and 160,000 lb (72,575 kg) for the engine. Differing from the immediately preceding H-1 Mikados in the use of a four-wheel bogie ahead of the drivers, this pair of Mountains seem to have pulled the varnish trains for the JGR. Dewhurst commented that the design incorporated many of the same design ideas as the 2-8-2s, but had modified cabs and an "entirely new style of chimney [stack], with a 'Capuchon'...."

They were built to a spec that noted a ruling grade of 3 1/2% and tight curves that the K-1s met with plain (unflanged) tires on the first and third drivers and a sliding bolster hold the front bogie.

The two-swing-link, single-axle truck under the smokebox now was a bogie with three-point suspension hangars. It wasn't equalized with the drivers, but all the driving axles and the trailing truck were equalized together.

Firebox heating surface area included arch tubes. 11" (279 mm) piston valves delivered steam to the relatively capacious cylinders. Already showing a relatively low factor of adhesion in the original specs, the figure as delivered came in even lower.

In early 1927, the Duke and Duchess of York visited Jamaica during their tour of the Empire. At the time, Prince Albert had no inkling that he would succeed Edward VIII as King of England in 1937. But his eminence dictated that the JGR would lay on a special train for the royal couple and the #40 was chosen to haul it. It temporaily bore the name "Duchess of York".

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
ClassDuchess of York/K-1
Locobase ID12789
RailroadJamaican Government
CountryJamaica
Whyte4-8-2
Number in Class2
Road Numbers40-41
GaugeStd
Number Built2
BuilderBaldwin
Year1916
Valve GearWalschaert
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)12.25 / 3.73
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)29.25 / 8.92
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.42
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)53.71 / 16.37
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)114,900 / 52,118
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)157,400 / 71,396
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)76,000 / 34,473
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)233,400 / 105,869
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)3600 / 13.64
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT)5 / 4.50
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)48 / 24
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)46 / 1168
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)190 / 1310
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)19" x 26" / 483x660
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)32,953 / 14947.25
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 3.49
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)173 - 2" / 51
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)24 - 5.375" / 137
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)17 / 5.18
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)134 / 12.45
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)37.70 / 3.50
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)2239 / 208.01
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)473 / 43.94
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)2712 / 251.95
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume262.42
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation7163
Same as above plus superheater percentage8381
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area29,788
Power L112,234
Power MT938.95

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