Pachuca a Tampico 4-6-0 Locomotives in Mexico


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class PF-2 (Locobase 6959)

Data from FCM 1920 Locomotive Diagrams supplied in May 2005 by Allen Stanley from his extensive Rail Data Exchange. See also "Pachuca-Tampico Railway Progressing", Standard Daily Trade Service (19 July 1919), p. 155; and "Mexican (Vera Cruz) Railway to Build New Line", Railway Age, Volume 72, No. 11 (18 March 1922), p. 758. Works number was 43296 in September 1907.

This lone Ten-wheeler was a very small machine for standard gauge at that time. The order actually came from the San Carlos Copper company, a small company with mine offices in Linares, Sexto, and Nuevo Leon. The railroad was begun by Richard Honey, a Cornishman who had acclimated himself to Mexican culture, language, and business opportunities. He obtained a concession in 1889 from the Mexican government to build the Pachuca, Zacualtipan and Tampico Railway, which was envisioned as ultimately linking Pachuca near Mexico City with the Gulf of Mexico port at Tampico. The actual concession for the T&P was granted in 1906. At the time, the hope was that the main line between Pachuca and Zimapan within nine years.

The railway itself took a long time abuilding. It had extended 45 miles (72 km) to Ixmiquilpan in 1919. The anticipated agricultural development in Hidalgo and Vera Cruz States hadn't "progressed satisfactorily for some time past", said the Daily Trade Service report, but said "it is asserted that the Pachuca-Tampico line will do much to increase production."

By 1922, the railway had been taken over by the Mexican (Vera Cruz) Railway Company when it purchased controlling interest from Richard Honey's heirs. But the extension to Tampico itself was more problematic. It's likely that the 3 was one of "an engine or two in need of repairs" at that time, according to B E Holloway, then general manager. In any case, the MR renumbered the engine 51.

At some point, the MR most likely replaced the original boiler with the one shown in Locobase 6739.


Class PF-3 / F-30 (Locobase 6960)

Data from FCM 1920 Locomotive Diagrams supplied in May 2005 by Allen Stanley from his extensive Rail Data Exchange. See also NdeM 1950 Locomotive Diagrams Standard Gauge.

A pair of Rhode Island Ten-wheelers that were among the largest and most powerful Ten-wheelers delivered in that era. Their power came from a relatively large firebox. In the 1950 version, the grate area was 34.16 sq ft and firebox area was reduced to 179 sq ft.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
ClassPF-2PF-3 / F-30
Locobase ID6959 6960
RailroadPachuca a TampicoPachuca a Tampico
CountryMexicoMexico
Whyte4-6-04-6-0
Number in Class11
Road Numbers810
GaugeStdStd
Number Built11
BuilderAlco-RogersRhode Island
Year19071891
Valve GearStephensonStephenson
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)10.40 / 3.1711 / 3.35
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)21.44 / 6.5322.25 / 6.78
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.49 0.49
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)49.62 / 15.1252.25 / 15.93
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)79,084 / 35,872110,990 / 50,344
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)109,156 / 49,512140,990 / 63,952
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)82,930 / 37,61693,300 / 42,320
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)192,086 / 87,128234,290 / 106,272
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)4500 / 17.054500 / 17.05
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT)2850 / 10,7872546 / 9637
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)44 / 2262 / 31
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)56 / 142256 / 1422
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)145 / 1000180 / 1240
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)17" x 24" / 432x61020" x 24" / 508x610
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)15,265 / 6924.1026,229 / 11897.29
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 5.18 4.23
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)200 - 2" / 51278 - 2" / 51
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)12.31 / 3.7512.64 / 3.85
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)145 / 13.47196 / 18.21
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)22 / 2.0439.70 / 3.69
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1434 / 133.271964 / 182.53
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1434 / 133.271964 / 182.53
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume227.26224.97
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation31907146
Same as above plus superheater percentage31907146
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area21,02535,280
Power L146315665
Power MT387.29337.58

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