Cordoba-Huatusco 2-6-0 Locomotives in Mexico


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class Elena (Locobase 6745)

Data from MexRy 1939 Locomotive Diagrams supplied in May 2005 by Allen Stanley from his extensive Rail Data Exchange. See also DeGolyer, Volume 24, p. 182 and Volume 27, p. 218. See also Wikipedia's entry at [link], last accessed 1 September 2013. Works numbers were 20092 and 20140 in February 1902 and 25368 in March 1905.

20 miles (32.2 km) of 2' gauge track came under the Mexican Railway's oversight when that railroad bought the C=rdoba-Huatusco in 1909. The El Huatusquito never made it to that city, falling 19 km (11.8 miles) short at Coscomatepec. A big factor in the shortfall was the expense of constructing a road over some impressive obstacles. Best known of the engineering challenges was the erection of a bridge at Tomatlan that rose 78 metres (256 feet) over a small creek . Wikipedia reports a run of 7 km (4.35 miles) in which the grade was a constant 3.7% from Tomatlan to the end of track at Coscomatepec.

These little wood-burning Moguls -- the second and third were named Luisa and Beatriz -- were delivered with the dimensions shown in the specs. At some point after they arrived on the Huatusco, they had their strokes lengthened by 2" (54 mm), which raised starting tractive effort to 10,014 lb (4,542 kg). Some time later, allowable boiler pressure increased to 160 psi (11 bar).

The Mexican Railway diagram showns much higher weights: 44,941 lb (20,385 kg) on drivers and 52,931 lb (24,009 kg) for all axles. Perhaps Baldwin's original estimates (shown in the specifications) were seriously off or a later boiler upgrade increased weights.

Regardless of their weight, the three served the branch up until its abandonment in 1951. Luisa went on display in Mexico while the other two were scrapped in 1954.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
ClassElena
Locobase ID6745
RailroadCordoba-Huatusco
CountryMexico
Whyte2-6-0
Number in Class3
Road Numbers1-3
Gauge2'
Number Built3
BuilderBurnham, Williams & Co
Year1902
Valve GearStephenson
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m) 7.08 / 2.16
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)13 / 3.96
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.54
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)36.62 / 11.16
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)34,500 / 15,649
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)40,500 / 18,371
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)29,961 / 13,590
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)70,461 / 31,961
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)1245 / 4.72
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT)949 / 3592
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)19 / 9.50
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)33 / 838
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)150 / 1030
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)12" x 16" / 305x406
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)8902 / 4037.88
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 3.88
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)68 - 2" / 51
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)10.83 / 3.30
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)30 / 2.79
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)7 / 0.65
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)415 / 38.57
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)415 / 38.57
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume198.56
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation1050
Same as above plus superheater percentage1050
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area4500
Power L12230
Power MT427.50

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