4-6-2+2-6-4

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A 4-6-2+2-6-4, in the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives by wheel arrangement, is a Garratt articulated locomotive.

Other equivalent classifications are:
UIC classification: 2C1+1C2 (also known as German classification and Italian classification)
French classification: 231+132
Turkish classification: 36+36
Swiss classification: 3/6+3/6

The wheel arrangement is effectively two 4-6-2 "Pacific" locomotives operating back-to-back. This arrangement is thus referred to as a "Double Pacific."

The double Pacific type was fairly common for Garratt locomotives, especially those intended for faster passenger service. The first appear to have been 37 locomotives of 3 ft 6 in gauge built by Hanomag of Hanover, Germany in 1927 for the South African Railways,[1] while the first built by Beyer Peacock (the owner of the Garratt patent) were three G class locomotives constructed for the New Zealand Government Railways in 1928.[2] In Spain ,six locomotyves of this weel arrangement rode the rails. First in the "Central de Aragon" railway, to haul the heaviest passenger trains in her steepest gradients from Valencia to Saragossa. In RENFE days, they worked, converted in oil-burners, with the heavy consists from Barcelona to Seville in the Tarragona-Valencia section.


[edit] References

  1. ^ Hamilton, Gavin (1998). Garratt locomotives from other builders. The Garratt Locomotive.
  2. ^ Hamilton, Gavin (1998). Garratt Locomotives produced by Beyer Peacock. The Garratt Locomotive.