loco-info.com - Madras & Southern Mahratta No. 500 to 503

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In 1925, the Madras & Southern Mahratta Railway got four 4-8-0 locomotives for their metre-gauge network which had been designed by Messrs. Rendel, Palmer & Tritton. They were built by W.G. Bagnall and got the numbers 500 to 503. Some visible features were the inclined cylinders, the Belpaire firebox and steam pipes which were partly external. Despite an axle load of only 8.7 tons, they had a good power to weight ratio. Also the tenders were relatively light, partly due to their rigid frame without the extra weight of bogies.

General
Built	1925
Manufacturer	W.G. Bagnall
Wheel arr.	4-8-0 (Twelve-wheeler)
Gauge	3 ft 3 3/8 in (Meter gauge)

Dimensions and Weights
Length	52 ft 4 15/16 in
Wheelbase	20 ft 6 in
Rigid wheelbase	12 ft
Total wheelbase	42 ft 2 3/4 in
Empty weight	86,576 lbs
Service weight	95,648 lbs
Adhesive weight	77,280 lbs
Total weight	161,056 lbs
Axle load	18,704 lbs
Water capacity	3,183 us gal
Fuel capacity	10,080 lbs (coal)

Boiler
Grate area	16.6 sq ft
Firebox area	124 sq ft
Tube heating area	785 sq ft
Evaporative heating area	909 sq ft
Superheater area	150 sq ft
Total heating area	1,059 sq ft

Power Plant
Driver diameter	43 in
Boiler pressure	160 psi
Expansion type	simple
Cylinders	two, 17 x 22 in

Power
Power source	steam
Estimated power	750 hp (559 kW)
Starting effort	20,109 lbf

Calculated Values
Factor of adhesion	1 : 3.84
Optimal speed	24 mph
Power-to-weight ratio	0.0078 hp/lb
Heating Area Equivalent	1,829 sq ft
Cylinder volume/HAE	1 : 963.16
Adhesive weight/Total	1 : 1.24
Tractive force/Heating area	1 : 4268.84
Grate area/Heating area	1 : 56.33
Firebox/Tube area	1 : 7.54
Total/Superheater	1 : 6.06

steam locomotive

passenger

freight

last changed: 10/2024

Locomotive Magazine, July 1925

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