Data from "2-8-4 Tank Locomotive, Palestine Railways", Locomotive Magazine (15 April 1922), pp. 99 and 15 May 1922, pp. 135-139; and "New Locomotives and Rolling-Stock for the Palestine Railway", Railroad Gazette (UK), Volume XXXVII [37], No 6 (11 August 1922), pp. 194-195. Works numbers were 5360-5365 in 1922.
This sextet of tank engines were intended to work the steep grades between Lydda and Jerusalem in the British Mandate of Palestine. Flown by a crow, the distance measured 25 miles (40 km), but the right of way wound for 42 miles (67.6 km). Headed away from Jaffa, near Jersusalem, the railway rose a total of 2,500 ft (762 m) or an average of 1.1%.
Such consistent demand for power explains the small drivers and generous proportions in the Belpaire firebox, but not the relatively low ratio of heating surface to grate area. Moreover, the tight alignments and curves led to several K-class derailments. One of the class was derailed by Jewish insurgents in 1946.
| Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media | |
|---|---|
| Class | K |
| Locobase ID | 20902 |
| Railroad | Palestine Railway |
| Country | Palestine |
| Whyte | 2-8-4T |
| Number in Class | 6 |
| Road Numbers | 1-6 |
| Gauge | Std |
| Number Built | 6 |
| Builder | Kitson & Co |
| Year | 1922 |
| Valve Gear | Walschaert |
| Locomotive Length and Weight | |
| Driver Wheelbase (ft / m) | 13.25 / 4.04 |
| Engine Wheelbase (ft / m) | 34 / 10.36 |
| Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase | 0.39 |
| Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m) | 34 / 10.36 |
| Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg) | 35,480 / 16,093 |
| Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg) | 143,600 / 65,136 |
| Engine Weight (lbs / kg) | 224,448 / 101,808 |
| Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg) | |
| Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg) | |
| Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML) | 3744 / 14.18 |
| Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT) | 4.40 / 4 |
| Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m) | 60 / 30 |
| Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort | |
| Driver Diameter (in / mm) | 48 / 1219 |
| Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa) | 180 / 1240 |
| High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm) | 20.5" x 24" / 521x610 |
| Tractive Effort (lbs / kg) | 32,149 / 14582.56 |
| Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) | 4.47 |
| Heating Ability | |
| Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm) | 153 - 1.875" / 48 |
| Flues (number - dia) (in / mm) | 24 - 5.25" / 133 |
| Flue/Tube length (ft / m) | 12.67 / 3.86 |
| Firebox Area (sq ft / m2) | 160 / 14.86 |
| Grate Area (sq ft / m2) | 28 / 2.60 |
| Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2) | 1529 / 142.05 |
| Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2) | 292 / 27.13 |
| Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2) | 1821 / 169.18 |
| Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume | 166.77 |
| Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information) | |
| Robert LeMassena's Power Computation | 5040 |
| Same as above plus superheater percentage | 5846 |
| Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area | 33,408 |
| Power L1 | 7785 |
| Power MT | 478.08 |