2-6-2 Steam Locomotives in Korea

Class 1 (Locobase 21296)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines,as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 23, p. 264. (Thanks to Ivo Rutishauser for his email pointing out the additional 13 locomotives covered by the same Baldwin specification page.) Works numbers were 20551 in June 1902, 21356-21357 in November, 21358, 21375 in December, 23525-23527, 23539-23541, and 23550-23551 in January 1904.

Locobase 12495--originally drafted in April 2011--describes the pair of Prairie tanks Baldwin delivered to the Seoul-Chemulpo line in 1901. At the time the author didn't notice the small print at the top of the page. Fourteen years later, Ivo Rutishauser did and pointed out to Locobase the additional spec numbers for these two batches of the same design and their destination of the Seoul-Fusan line. See Locobase 12689 for an account of the building of this railway.

Baldwin's specification contained a comment about a rival's performance: "Present Brooks 14" x 22" and 42" driver engines not fast enough".

It spelled out the train load expectations. Seoul-Chemulpo wanted one engine to haul 10-12 25-ton rail cars up a "straight 1% grade" at an average speed of 22 mph (35 kph) when cars and track are in "good condition."

Endurance specs required the tank of "sufficient capacity for one trip over the road with some left over for overwork. Coal bunker large enough to avoid frequent replenishment."

Provided with one "large alarm whistle" and one "small signal whistle", the specs also required the locomotive "to stop well and start quickly".