Ferrocarriles Nacionales Dewhurst Standard 4-8-0 “Docerruedas”

When several Colombian railways were unified under state control in 1924, P.C. Dewhurst designed a standard locomotive to be used on lines with three foot and meter gauge. They were 4-8-0 or twelve-wheelers, also called “Docerruedas”. They were produced between 1924 and 1951 by a total of seven manufacturers from the USA, Germany, Great Britain, Belgium and Czechoslovakia.

All had drivers with a diameter of 40 inches (1.245 mm) and a cylinder stroke of 22 inches (559 mm). The cylinder diameter varied from 17 to 18 1/4 inches (432 to 464 mm). To enable running through tight curves, the first driving axle had no flanges and the last one had an axlebox that allowed lateral movement and was self-centering. Also the bogie allowed ample lateral movement.

In total, 108 of these were delivered to several Colombian Railways which later became part of FCN. With more than 60, the Pacífico got the most. One picture shows number 37, one of the Kitson locomotives delivered to the Pacífico. It was named “Pedro del Ospina” and was one of the lightest at 111,000 pounds (50.3 t). Ambalema-Ibagué No. 10 was built by Baldwinin 1947 and had a weight of 131,500 pounds (59.6 t).