[Originally composed in 2012 as Locobase 14414]
Data from Catalogue 10036--Locomotives for Export (New York City, April 1910), pp. 32-33. See also J F Gairns, "Some Remarkable Locomotives of 1908", Cassier's Magazine, Volume XXXVI [36], No 2 (June 1909), pp. 121, 123; and "Tank Locomotives for the Southern Manchuria Railway", Railway Age, Volume XLV [45], no 6 (7 Febrruary 1908), pp. 187-188. (Thanks to Alexander Blessing for his 12 July 2023 email pointing out a duplicated entry.) Works numbers were 43934-44002 in August 1907.
Although many builders' lists compiled in later years show these Richmond engines with 69" drivers, the Catalogue gives the diameter as 54". Gairns's contemporary review confirms the 54" figure, which is also confirmed by a study of the accompanying photographs in both publications cited above.
Gairns added that the design corresponded "to that of the large order recently completed by the same builders for the Panama Railroad, but they are smaller. The design is simple and neat. Equalizing levers are employed for the coupled wheels and the leading bogie truck." Gairns doesn't specify the equalizing scheme (e.g., was the bogie truck equalized with the leading driving axle?). Locobase's assessment of the design's appearance is that the tank is oddly bobtailed.
RA noticed the emphasis on straight horizontals in the locomotive's design and the contribution of the side tanks to the look, saying "for this reason the locomotive presents an unusually attractive appearance, compared to most of the tank engines built in this country."
| Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media | |
|---|---|
| Class | DB1 |
| Locobase ID | 20203 |
| Railroad | South Manchurian |
| Country | Japan |
| Whyte | 2-6-4T |
| Number in Class | 69 |
| Road Numbers | 1-33, 433-468 |
| Gauge | Std |
| Number Built | 69 |
| Builder | Alco-Richmond |
| Year | 1907 |
| Valve Gear | Stephenson |
| Locomotive Length and Weight | |
| Driver Wheelbase (ft / m) | 13.17 / 4.01 |
| Engine Wheelbase (ft / m) | 33.33 / 10.16 |
| Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase | 0.40 |
| Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m) | 33.33 / 10.16 |
| Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg) | |
| Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg) | 109,600 / 49,714 |
| Engine Weight (lbs / kg) | 186,300 / 84,504 |
| Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg) | |
| Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg) | |
| Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML) | 3520 / 13.33 |
| Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT) | 7 / 6 |
| Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m) | 61 / 30.50 |
| Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort | |
| Driver Diameter (in / mm) | 54 / 1372 |
| Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa) | 180 / 1240 |
| High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm) | 19" x 26" / 483x660 |
| Tractive Effort (lbs / kg) | 26,594 / 12062.85 |
| Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) | 4.12 |
| Heating Ability | |
| Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm) | 220 - 2" / 51 |
| Flues (number - dia) (in / mm) | |
| Flue/Tube length (ft / m) | 12 / 3.66 |
| Firebox Area (sq ft / m2) | 125 / 11.61 |
| Grate Area (sq ft / m2) | 26 / 2.42 |
| Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2) | 1498 / 139.17 |
| Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2) | |
| Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2) | 1498 / 139.17 |
| Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume | 175.57 |
| Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information) | |
| Robert LeMassena's Power Computation | 4680 |
| Same as above plus superheater percentage | 4680 |
| Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area | 22,500 |
| Power L1 | 4031 |
| Power MT | 243.25 |