United Swiss 0-4-0 Locomotives in Switzerland


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class 1 / Ec 2/5 (1st boiler) (Locobase 9582)

Data from [], last accessed 2 July 2010. Works numbers were 255-258 in 1854; 300-303, 307-314 in 1856; 395-402, 407-410 in 1858.

The supported-tender Engerth design went into service in Switzerland in this class, which began delivery in 1854. The engine and tender were closely linked - indeed, the front tender axle was placed ahead of the firebox and those wheels were linked by side rods to the main driving axle. Another element of the design was the spherical pivot between the tender and the engine, which had some vertical play and also allowed the locomotives to negotiate tighter curves.

The tender frame was quite strong, but the locomotive's inside frame that supported the boiler and cylinders proved to be a weak spot because it was too lightly built. At first the footplates had barely any shelter and the sides were guarded simply by chains.

The locomotives were rated at 260-300 tonnes on the level, 160-220 tonnes on a 1% grade, and only 75 tonnes up the Hauenstein inclines. Thus, says the Wikipedia author, the usual train of 150 tonnes had to be double-headed until the Ec 2/5s were replaced by the Eb 3/4 and Ed 3/5 types. On the other hand, the class managed lighter passenger trains quite handily and served those routes for decades. (August Sinclair, in his 1907 book, compares the Engerth tender-supporting design to that of Matthias Forney, which seems a good assessment.)

The original oval boiler was replaced by a cylindrical boiler beginning in the latter 1860s; see Locobase 9584.


Class Ec 2/5 (2nd boiler) (Locobase 9584)

Data from [] . Within 10 years after the SCB took delivery of this Engerth design, it had begun substituting a cylindrical boiler for the original tall oval vessels.

The class was withdrawn over a 22-year period with the first 3 leading the way in 1883 and 4 surving the turn of the century to be scrapped in 1905-1906.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class1 / Ec 2/5 (1st boiler)Ec 2/5 (2nd boiler)
Locobase ID9582 9584
RailroadUnited Swiss (VSB)United Swiss (VSB)
CountrySwitzerlandSwitzerland
Whyte0-4-0+60-4-0+6
Number in Class2626
Road Numbers1-14 , 27-381-14, 27-38
GaugeStdStd
Number Built26
BuilderEsslingenEsslingen
Year18541867
Valve GearStephensonStephenson
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m) 7.38 / 2.25 7.38 / 2.25
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)28,660 / 13,00031,085 / 14,100
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)57,320 / 26,00062,170 / 28,200
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)99,208 / 45,000102,956 / 46,700
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)99,208 / 45,000102,956 / 46,700
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)1214 / 4.601214 / 4.60
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT) 3.30 / 3 3.30 / 3
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)19 / 9.5021 / 10.50
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)54.30 / 137954.10 / 1375
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)130.50 / 9145 / 10
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)16.06" x 22.09" / 408x56116.06" x 22.09" / 408x561
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)11,639 / 5279.3712,980 / 5887.64
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 4.92 4.79
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)138 - 2.126" / 54
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)14.40 / 4.3914.01 / 4.27
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)64.58 / 665.64 / 6.10
Grate Area (sq ft / m2) 9.69 / 0.9010.76 / 1
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1151 / 106.901106 / 102.80
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1151 / 106.901106 / 102.80
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume222.23213.55
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation12651560
Same as above plus superheater percentage12651560
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area84289518
Power L133613620
Power MT646.35641.85

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