Kekaha Sugar Company 2-6-2 "Prairie" Locomotives in the USA


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class Kola (Locobase 12407)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines, 1890, as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Vol 23, p. 92. For more information on the Kekaha Sugar Company, see the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association Plantation Archives online at [link] . Works numbers were 18356 in October 1900, 23879 in March 1904, and 35726 in December 1910.

Prairie tanks small enough to trip over in the dark, an impression that Locobase considers only a small exaggeration. Five axles under so small a boiler and grate meant very light rail, such as found on a Hawaiian sugar plantation on the island of Kauai. Kola was satisfactory enough that the Kekaha Company took delivery of the Noholi, ordered in 1900 but produced in 1904, and the Poki'i, which arrived in 1911.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
ClassKola
Locobase ID12407
RailroadKekaha Sugar Company
CountryUSA
Whyte2-6-2T
Number in Class3
Road Numbers1-3
Gauge2'6"
Number Built3
BuilderBurnham, Williams & Co
Year1900
Valve GearStephenson
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m) 6.83 / 2.08
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)18.83 / 5.74
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.36
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)18.83 / 5.74
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)24,000 / 10,886
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)35,000 / 15,876
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)35,000
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)400 / 1.52
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT)
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)13 / 6.50
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)33 / 838
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)150 / 1030
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)9" x 16" / 229x406
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)5007 / 2271.14
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 4.79
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)45 - 1.75" / 44
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flue/Tube length (ft / m) 9.67 / 2.95
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)31.80 / 2.96
Grate Area (sq ft / m2) 5.19 / 0.48
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)230 / 21.38
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)230 / 21.38
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume194.92
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation779
Same as above plus superheater percentage779
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area4770
Power L12720
Power MT749.57

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