4-6-2 Steam Locomotives in Nigeria

Nigerian Railways


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class 405 (Locobase 21194)

Data from "Pacific Type Locomotives, Nigerian Railways", The Locomotive, Volume XXXIII [33], No. 413 (15 January 1927). See also "Africa Railways - Nigeria Railways - NR 4-6-2 steam locomotive Nr. 412 EMIR OF KAIAMA (Nasmyth Wilson 1534 / 1928): on Flickr's Historical Railway Images photostream at [], last accessed 25 August 2024. (Thanks to Teemu Koivumaki for his 19 August 2024 email supplying key information for several Nigerian Railways classes.) Works numbers 1471-1476 in 1926 nd 1493-1496 in 1928.

LM's report certainly told the truth in describing these Pacifics as "powerful". Their particulars also show many of the features available in late -era steam locomotives. Designed for the 700-mile (1,126 km) Lagos-Kano mainline passenger service, 405s hauled optimistically named North Mail and Boat Express trains at an average speed of 22 mph (35 kph).

As diesels began taking over mainline passenger service in the mid-1950s, the 405s migrated to secondary lines where they operated into the 1970s.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
Class405
Locobase ID21194
RailroadNigerian Railways
CountryNigeria
Whyte4-6-2
Number in Class10
Road Numbers405-414
Gauge3'6"
Number Built10
BuilderNasmyth Wilson
Year1926
Valve GearWalschaert
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)11.50 / 3.51
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)28.67 / 8.74
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.40
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)52.79 / 16.09
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)28,672 / 13,005
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)61,667 / 27,972
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)135,901 / 61,644
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)70,829 / 32,128
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)206,730 / 93,772
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)3600 / 13.64
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT) 8.25 / 7.50
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)34 / 17
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)60 / 1524
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)180 / 1240
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)18" x 26" / 457x660
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)21,481 / 9743.63
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 2.87
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)132 - 1.75" / 44
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)21 - 5.25" / 133
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)12 / 3.66
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)165 / 15.33
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)19.80 / 1.84
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1237 / 114.92
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)236 / 21.92
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1473 / 136.84
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume161.54
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation3564
Same as above plus superheater percentage4134
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area34,452
Power L19840
Power MT1055.35

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