2-6-2 Steam Locomotives in Japan

Kobu / JNR


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class 1 / 3020 (Locobase 2910)

Data from Catalogue Descriptive of Simple and Compound Locomotives built by Brooks Locomotive Works, Dunkirk, NY (Buffalo, NY: Matthew-Northrup Company, 1899). See Francis H Trevithick, "The Railway System in Japan,", Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan, Volume 22 (Yokohoma: Meiklejohn & Co, No 49, 1894), p.197. Works numbers were 2836-2838 in October 1897.

The Kobu Railway had been authorized in August 1888 to build 26.77 miles (43.1 km) . Francis Trevithick reported in the Kobu "runs through a flat country with a heavy clayey soil, crosses the Tama river 18 1/2 miles and arrives at Hachioji, distance of 28 miles. The lino was opened to the public on the 18th August, 1889.

"The Kobu Railway was worked by the officials of the Nippon Railway Company. This arrangement did not give satisfaction, so the railway received sanction in October, 1891, to separate itself, and began from the 1st November of the same year to control the affairs of its railway independently."

Two years earlier the Kobu gained permission to extend its line from Shinjuku (which was not satisfactory) to Miaki-Cho. The extension was completed by 31 July 1898.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
Class1 / 3020
Locobase ID2910
RailroadKobu / JNR
CountryJapan
Whyte2-6-2T
Number in Class3
Road Numbers1-3 / 3020-3022
Gauge3'6"
Number Built3
BuilderBrooks
Year1897
Valve GearStephenson
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m) 9.67 / 2.95
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)22 / 6.71
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.44
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)22 / 6.71
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)65,000 / 29,484
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)87,000 / 39,463
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)1440 / 5.45
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT) 1.50 / 1
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)36 / 18
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)48 / 1219
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)165 / 1140
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)14" x 20" / 356x508
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)11,454 / 5195.45
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 5.67
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)170 - 1.75" / 44
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flue/Tube length (ft / m) 9.10 / 2.77
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)74 / 6.88
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)13.60 / 1.26
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)767 / 71.28
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)767 / 71.28
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume215.25
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation2244
Same as above plus superheater percentage2244
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area12,210
Power L14212
Power MT428.58

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