Another vest-pocket-sized American 4-4-0

[Nick_Burman]

Hi all,

Trawling through my books I found a picture in "Porter Steam Locomotives: Light and Heavy", page 47, of another vest-pocket sized American-built 4-4-0 which might be of interest. This beauty was built for a 36" gauge RR in Central America; fitted with a pencil-sized boiler and 42" drivers it had 10x16" cylinders and weighed (engine only) a sprightly 35.000 pounds in working order. Plus or minus this loco sort of matches the B'mann 4-4-0 in size.

Now, the interesting info about this engine was it's theoretical haulage capacity, this will help you guys give your 4-4-0s proper trains... on the flat the loco could haul between 500 and 800 tons (depending on the rolling characteristics of the equipment); going up a 1% grade this dropped to 150-175 tons and on a 3% grade the engine hauled a measly 45-50 tons. Oh, 30-pound rails, please...

Cheers NB