Central de Aragon 4-8-0 Locomotives in Spain


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class 240-2071 (Locobase 3381)

Data from [link], the web site of the Spanish National Railway.

Justo Arenillas in "Las locomotoras belgas en el Madrid-Caceres-Portugal", Lineas Del Tren (as reproduced on [link], viewed 28 April 2003) said (as translated by Locobase) these were the last Belgian locomotives to be bought by a Spanish railway. These replaced the 0-6-0s that Couillet had delivered years earlier, but were in turn supplanted by the passenger Garratts of a few years later. Arenillas comments that the tall drivers, tallest among the Mastodons, are surprising given the steep profiles of the FCA's routes.

A description of the locomotives held by El Museo del Ferrocarril de Vilanova i la Geltru comments that these "Mastodontes" were the largest non-articulated locomotives to be bought by the FCA. It explains that replacing the 0-6-0s was mandated not just by the increasing size, but also the increasing speed of the passenger trains. Echoing Arenillas, the catalogue notes the dual requirements of being able to confront the steep grades while also pulling fast trains on the level.

In the 1950s, the class was transferred to the Tarragon depot to serve local freight and passenger traffic.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
Class240-2071
Locobase ID3381
RailroadCentral de Aragon
CountrySpain
Whyte4-8-0
Number in Class4
Road Numbers71-74 / 240.2071-2074
Gauge5'6"
Number Built4
BuilderTubize
Year1927
Valve GearWalschaert
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)19.85 / 6.05
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)32.97 / 10.05
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.60
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)58.48 / 17.82
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)29,101 / 13,200
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)116,404 / 52,800
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)171,960 / 78,000
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)104,444 / 47,375
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)276,404 / 125,375
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)5721 / 21.67
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT) 5.50 / 5
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)49 / 24.50
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)68.90 / 1750
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)171.10 / 1180
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)23.58" x 25.98" / 599x660
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)30,491 / 13830.50
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 3.82
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)141 - 1.969" / 50
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)24 - 5" / 127
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)16.40 / 5
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)150.70 / 14
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)32.29 / 3
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1701 / 157.99
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)516 / 47.96
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)2217 / 205.95
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume129.54
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation5525
Same as above plus superheater percentage6796
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area31,715
Power L110,621
Power MT804.62

All material Copyright © SteamLocomotive.com
Wes Barris