2-4-4-0 Steam Locomotives in Japan

Imperial Government Railways


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class 9020 (Locobase 20206)

Data from "American Locomotives in Japan", Locomotive Magazine, Volume XXIV, No. 3 (15 March 1918), p. 40; Akira Saito, "A Summary of Overview of Japan's Modern Steam Locomotives", based on his May 2000 Rail Magazine article and available on the web from 2004 at [] . and "JGR Class 9020" in Locomotive Wiki at [], last accessed 13 January 2024.. Works numbers were 49829-49834 in March 1911.

Among the Mallet articulated locomotives eventually operated in Japan, ths sextet were among the first. Alco had already supplied these engines as 0-4-4-0 Mallets, a small design that Akira Saito dismissed as training vehicles. To improve their roadability, the shops added a leading truck to this Mallet articulated all-adhesion design.

Piston valves supplied live steam to the rear engine unit; slide valves sufficed for the low-pressure cylinders in the leading unit.

Whatever the IGR may have expected from these engines, they did not deliver a satsifactory result. All were discarded by 1925.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
Class9020
Locobase ID20206
RailroadImperial Government Railways (JGR)
CountryJapan
Whyte2-4-4-0
Number in Class6
Road Numbers9020-9025
Gauge3'6"
Number Built6
BuilderAlco-Schenectady
Year1911
Valve GearWalschaert
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)7 / 2.13
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)22.67 / 6.91
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.31
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)22.67 / 6.91
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)117,500 / 53,297
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)117,500 / 53,297
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)62,350 / 28,282
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)179,850 / 81,579
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)3240 / 12.27
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT)3 / 3
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)49 / 24.50
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)49 / 1245
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)180 / 1240
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)15.5" x 24" / 394x610
Low Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)24.5" x 24" / 622x610
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)25,715 / 11664.14
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 4.57
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)176 - 2.25" / 57
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm) - 5.5" / 140
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)16.83 / 5.13
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)117.80 / 10.94
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)21.40 / 1.99
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1864 / 173.17
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1864 / 173.17
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume355.63
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation3852
Same as above plus superheater percentage3852
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area21,204
Power L12754
Power MT206.69

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