Jamaican Government Kitson-Meyer Locomotives in Jamaica


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class 30 (Locobase 3624)

Data from Wiener (1930); and from P C Dewhurst, "The Jamaica Government Railway and its Locomotives", Locomotive Magazine, Volume 25 (15 November 1919), p. 194-195.

Kitson-Meyer type with very long side tanks flanking a Belpaire firebox. Each truck was pivoted not in the center of the three-axle assembly but at a point 10" (254 mm) ahead of that center. Each truck was fully equalized.

Changing the path of exhaust from the rear engine set from going up its separate stack to coming forward to the smokebox caused trouble with "excessive draught throwing sparks". A diamond stack did not cure the problem. Another change lengthened the fuel and water bunker behind the cab to fill the frame.

In his 1919 report, Dewhurst wrote that the trio had "not proved very satisfactory, being heavy on coal and repairs compared with other engines doing the same work." As a result, even the character of the line "difficult as it is, hardly justif[ies] the use of a type so expensive in fuel and upkeep."

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
Class30
Locobase ID3624
RailroadJamaican Government
CountryJamaica
Whyte0-6-0+0-6-0T
Number in Class3
Road Numbers30-32
GaugeStd
Number Built3
BuilderKitson & Co
Year1904
Valve GearWalschaert
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)15.50 / 2.59
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)29.75 / 10.87
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.52
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)29.75
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)180,096 / 81,690
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)180,096 / 81,690
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)180,096 / 81,690
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT)
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)50 / 25
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)42 / 1067
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)203 / 1400
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)13" x 22" / 330x559 (4)
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)30,550 / 13857.26
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 5.90
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)226 - 1.875" / 48
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)12 / 3.66
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)130 / 12.17
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)26.10 / 2.43
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1458 / 135.59
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1458 / 135.59
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume215.70
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation5298
Same as above plus superheater percentage5298
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area26,390
Power L14431
Power MT325.45

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