NSB / Setesdalsbanen 2-6-2 Locomotives in Norway


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class Class 12a (Locobase 6152)

Data from:

Svein Sando's Railway Site [link] (9 June 2004)--(Later link: The Semaphore, accessed for link update 10 July 2022.)--and the Jernbane (Iron Road) site [link] (June 2004); and [link], last accessed 17 June 2018. Works number was 2846 in 1891.

This single locomotive was a Prairie tank delivered with the Class 11a Moguls bought in the same year.


Class Class 12b/12c (Locobase 6153)

Data from:

Svein Sando's Railway Site [link] (9 June 2004)--(Later link: The Semaphore, accessed for link update 10 July 2022.)--and the Jernbane (Iron Road) site http://jernbane.net (June 2004); and [link], last accessed 17 June 2018. Works numbers were 2311 (12c) and 2312 (12b) in 1898

These compounds followed the single Dubs-built Class 12a simple-expansion engine by 7 years. Similar in most respects, they had a higher working pressure. The second locomotive (12c or 100) differed in the amount of water (4.9 tons or 1,294 US gallons) and coal (1.8 metric tons or 2 short tons) carried.

Both carried on until 1953


Class Class 20a (Locobase 6162)

Data from:

Svein Sando's Railway Site [link] (9 June 2004)--(Later link: The Semaphore, accessed for link update 10 July 2022.)--and the Jernbane (Iron Road) site http://jernbane.net (June 2004). (Thanks to Wes Barris of steamlocomotive.com for his 13 June 2018 email noting a missing cylinder stroke.) Works numbers were 7-9 in 1904, 76 and 80 in 1912, 94 in 1914.

Two-cylinder compound Prairie tanks that, as built, were relatively short of water tankage. Over the course of a 60-year career, the class saw several of its members gain larger water tanks. A couple were simpled and superheated using the same boiler as some of the Class 15 Moguls; see Locobase 6163


Class Class 20b (Locobase 6163)

Data from:

Svein Sando's Railway Site [link] (9 June 2004)--(Later link: The Semaphore, accessed for link update 10 July 2022.)--and the Jernbane (Iron Road) site http://jernbane.net (June 2004).

Two of the cross-compound Class 20a (Locobase 6162) were eventually simpled and superheated using the same boiler as the Class 15 Moguls described in Locobase 6150. The result was a typical Norwegian compromise between light axle-loading and boiler power.

173 was converted in 1942. 201 first received larger water tanks (at the cost of some coal bunkerage) and a higher adhesion weight in 1925; it was then designated 20d. In 1944, it was simpled and superheated and joined 173 in Class 20b. 201 also had the distinction of being the last of the class to retire, its withdrawal coming on 13 Jan 1964.


Class Class 32a (Locobase 4081)

Compact Prairie tank passenger engines supplied as part of a Norwegian railways modernization drive. See Norwegian Railway Club (Norsk Jerbaneklubb) website [link] in which this class is shown to have been the answer along several stretches of road. Also, data from:

Svein Sando's Railway Site [link] (9 June 2004)--(Later link: The Semaphore, accessed for link update 10 July 2022.)--and the Jernbane (Iron Road) site [link] (June 2004); supplemented by [link], last accessed 17 June 2018.

After Hamar delivered seven 32a in 1915, Falun of Sweden completed the class with three in 1921, after the Americans had all been delivered. One of this subclass (288) was the last to be retired, leaving service on 21 April 1969.


Class Class 32b (Locobase 4082)

See Norwegian Railway Club (Norsk Jerbaneklubb) website Norwegian Railway Club (Norsk Jerbaneklubb) website [link], last accessed 30 January 2010, Svein Sando's Railway Site [link] (9 June 2004)--(Later link: The Semaphore, accessed for link update 10 July 2022.)--and the Jernbane (Iron Road) site [link] (originally June 2004, last accessed 30 January 2010). See also DeGolyer, Vol 60, pp. 18+. Works numbers were 45834-45837 in June 1917 and 45939-45941 in July.

Supplementing the Norwegian-built Class 32a, these five arrived before the US gave up its neutrality in World War I, presumably. Compared to the 32a, the American locomotives (32b & 32c) had slightly smaller boilers but larger grates. 9 1/2 inch (241 mm) piston valves fed the cylinders.

The last two engines in this order were delivered to the Norwegian Trunk Line.

Oddly, like other Baldwin engines delivered to Norway in that year, these had counter-balancing problems that were remedied in the Class 32c that arrived two years later. See Class 32c entry at Locobase 2775.


Class Class 32c (Locobase 2775)

Compact Prairie tank passenger engines supplied as part of a Norwegian railways modernization drive. See Norwegian Railway Club (Norsk Jerbaneklubb) website [link] and [link] (last accessed 30 January 2010). See also DeGolyer, Vol 60, pp. 23+. Works numbers were 52077-52083 in July 1919.

The Norwegian entries pointed out that this group fixed the counter-balancing problems that cropped up in the earlier Baldwin Class 32b. The 32c had a rated top speed of 75 km/h (46.6 mph). Like the 32b, the cylinders received their steam through 9 1/2 inch (240 mm) piston valves.


Class XXI (Locobase 10135)

Data from "Norwegian State Railway Locomotives," The Locomotive Magazine, Vol V (January 1900), p.11. Works numbers 3172-3173 for Dubs.

Engines 1 & 2 were one of two pairs of locomotives built by Dubs and Company in Glasgow to a Norwegian State Railways design. Rob Dickinson explains: " In fact their design resulted from the line's unusual combination of a very light maximum axle loading, only 6 tonnes, 100 meter radius curves and steep gradients .... The line soon adopted the use of spark arresters which are so large that they require stays up from the smokebox to keep them in place v adding still further to the locos' unusual appearance."

Norway's Thunes Mekaniske Vaersted added 2 more, one in 1901, one in 1912; this one had 11 1/2" cylinders. They were rated at a top speed of 25 mph (40 km/h). Note the long wheelbase.

The Setesdalsbanen was opened in 1896 to link the top of a long valley to the port of Kristiansand over a 48.5 mile (78-km) route. According to the Setesdalsbanen site -- [link] -- freight traffic included timber, barrel staves (for wooden herring barrels), pit props, fire wood, feldspar (to the Belgian glass industry), paper and refined aluminium. Beginning in 1928 with the opening of standard-gauge service to Grovane, demand gradually declined and the line eventually closed in 1962.

Part of the line was turned into a heritage railway. Three of the 4 XXI's were preserved and as of 2009 still operated.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
ClassClass 12aClass 12b/12cClass 20aClass 20bClass 32a
Locobase ID6152 6153 6162 6163 4081
RailroadNSBNSBNSBNSBNSB
CountryNorwayNorwayNorwayNorwayNorway
Whyte2-6-2T2-6-2T2-6-2T2-6-2T2-6-2T
Number in Class126210
Road Numbers67101, 100171-173, 201, 249-250, 268173, 201283, 286-291, 407-409
GaugeStdStdStdStdStd
Number Built12610
BuilderDubs & CoHartmannHamarseveralseveral
Year18911898190419421915
Valve GearStephensonStephensonWalschaertWalschaertWalschaert
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)27.42 / 8.3627.42 / 8.3627.56 / 8.40
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)27.42 / 8.3627.42 / 8.3626.41 / 8.0538.02 / 11.5927.56 / 8.40
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)71,650 / 32,50072,091 / 32,70062,170 / 28,20068,564 / 31,10096,121 / 43,600
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)102,294 / 46,400108,908 / 49,400102,515 / 46,50086,421 / 39,200125,222 / 56,800
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)49,824 / 22,600
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)136,245 / 61,800
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)898 / 3.401241 / 4.701082 / 4.102033 / 7.701927 / 7.30
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT) 1.40 / 1 1.40 / 1 2.90 / 3 3.30 / 3 2.80 / 3
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)40 / 2040 / 2035 / 17.5038 / 1953 / 26.50
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)57 / 144857 / 144857 / 144857.10 / 145063 / 1600
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)145 / 1000174 / 1200174 / 1200174 / 1200170 / 1170
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)16" x 24" / 406x61016.75" x 24" / 425x610 (1)16.73" x 24.02" / 425x610 (1)17.01" x 24.02" / 432x61020.67" x 23.62" / 525x600
Low Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)25" x 24" / 635x610 (1)25" x 24.02" / 635x610 (1)
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)13,285 / 6025.9812,059 / 5469.8812,049 / 5465.3418,002 / 8165.5823,147 / 10499.32
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 5.39 5.98 5.16 3.81 4.15
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)14 / 1.3014 / 1.3013.56 / 1.2613.56 / 1.2617.43 / 1.62
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)868 / 80.70868 / 80.70841 / 78.10682 / 63.40948 / 88.10
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)175 / 16.30291 / 27.04
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)868 / 80.70868 / 80.70841 / 78.10857 / 79.701239 / 115.14
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume155.41283.62275.22107.95103.34
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation20302436235923592963
Same as above plus superheater percentage20302436235928313645
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area
Power L1
Power MT

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
ClassClass 32bClass 32cXXI
Locobase ID4082 2775 10135
RailroadNSBNSBSetesdalsbanen (NSB)
CountryNorwayNorwayNorway
Whyte2-6-2T2-6-2T2-6-2T
Number in Class774
Road Numbers331-335, 13-14384-3901, 2, 5, 7
GaugeStdStd3'6"
Number Built774
BuilderBaldwinBaldwinseveral
Year191719191894
Valve GearWalschaertWalschaertWalschaert
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)11.81 / 3.6011.81 / 3.60 8.20 / 2.50
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)27.56 / 8.4027.56 / 8.4020.67 / 6.30
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.43 0.43 0.40
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)27.56 / 8.4027.56 / 8.4020.67 / 6.30
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)95,240 / 43,20095,681 / 43,40032,620 / 14,796
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)124,561 / 56,500125,663 / 57,00049,588 / 22,493
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)1927 / 7.301927 / 7.30540 / 2.05
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT) 2.80 / 3 2.80 / 3
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)53 / 26.5053 / 26.5018 / 9
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)63 / 160063 / 160036 / 914
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)170 / 1170170 / 1170145 / 1000
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)20.67" x 23.62" / 525x60020.67" x 23.62" / 525x60011" x 18" / 279x457
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)23,147 / 10499.3223,147 / 10499.327457 / 3382.44
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 4.11 4.13 4.37
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)107 - 1.875" / 48107 - 1.875" / 48
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)18 - 5" / 12718 - 5" / 127
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)12 / 3.6612 / 3.66
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)92 / 8.5592 / 8.5545.17 / 4.20
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)19.30 / 1.7919.30 / 1.79 7.50 / 0.70
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)999 / 92.81999 / 92.81459 / 42.66
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)233 / 21.65233 / 21.65
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1232 / 114.461232 / 114.46459 / 42.66
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume108.90108.90231.83
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation328132811088
Same as above plus superheater percentage390439041088
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area18,61218,6126550
Power L1691969193009
Power MT480.48478.27610.09

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