China Railways KF
| Chinese Government Railways Class KF | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Specifications | |
| Power type | Steam |
| Designer | Colonel Kenneth Cantlie |
| Builder | Vulcan Foundry |
| Build date | 1935—1936 |
| Configuration | 4-8-4 |
| Gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
| Leading wheel diameter | 900 mm (35.43 in) |
| Driver diameter | 1,750 mm (68.90 in) |
| Trailing wheel diameter | 1,050 mm (41.34 in) |
| Length | 28.410 m (93 ft 3 in) |
| Weight on drivers | 67.96 tonnes (66.89 long tons; 74.91 short tons) |
| Locomotive and tender combined weight | 259.5 tonnes (255.4 long tons; 286.0 short tons) |
| Fuel type | Coal (FDP) |
| Boiler pressure | 15.5 kgf/cm2 (1.52 MPa; 220 psi) |
| Firegrate area | 394.64 m2 (4,247.9 sq ft) |
| Cylinders | Two, outside |
| Top speed | 85 km/h (53 mph) |
| Tractive effort | 19,300 kN (4,338,810 lbf) |
| Career | |
| Railroad(s) | China Railways |
| Locale | China |
| Delivered | 1935-1936 |
| Retired | 1977 |
| Preserved | 2 |
The Class KF (聯盟型, 'Confederation class', transliterated to ㄎ ㄈ 1) was a 4-8-4 mainline passenger steam locomotive type built in the UK by the Vulcan Foundry for the railways of China. Between 1935 and 1936, 24 locomotives were built for the Beijing-Hankou Railway designated as the 600 series.[citation needed] Following World War II, and the establishment of the People's Republic of China, the Chinese Government assumed control of the railway and re-designated the engines as the "KF" class.
History
In July 1933, the Beijing-Hankou Railway was in need of new motive power for their Guangzhou to Shaoguan line. However, this particular line had been burdened with gradients of around two percent as well as curves with less than 250 m (0.16 mi) radi, and low capacity bridges. This necessitated a locomotive design that had more tractive effort while retaining a low axle load. The railway approached the Vulcan Foundry in Britain, who devised a series of 24 locomotives of a 4-8-4 wheel arrangement.
The engines were a significant improvement over previous designs, incorporating a more efficient E-type superheater and duplex steam valve to allow better steaming without enlarging the boiler. The 4-8-4 wheel arrangement allowed for better weight distribution as well as improved handling on sharp curves. When the Changsha - Canton Railway was completed in October 1936, the class KF 1 - 24 locomotives were transferred to operate over northern section between Hankow and Changsha on this new main line, combining Tientsin and Peking with Kanton, over vast distance of 2,428 and 2,290 km (1,509 and 1,423 mi).
Most of the class KF survived the 1937 - 1945 Sino-Japanese war. They retained their old classification and continued in service up to early 1970s. Builder details:
- KF 1-16 2D2-h2 520x725 1752 Vulcan Foundry 4668 - 4683 / 1935 Renumbered to 'KF' 601 - 616
- KF 17-24 2D2-h2 520x725 1752 Vulcan Foundry 4696 - 4703 / 1936 Renumbered to 'KF' 617 - 624
Preservation
Two examples are known to have been preserved. One was presented by the Chinese Government to the National Railway Museum.[1] Another KF class locomotive is preserved at the Beijing Railway Museum.[2]
References
- ↑ Chinese Government Railways steam locomotive 4-8-4 KF7 class, No 607, 1935, National Railway Museum
- ↑ "Preserved locomotives.", www.railwaysofchina.com
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to China Railways KF. |
- "中国铁路技术标准的开拓者之一――应尚才", www.gmw.cn (in Chinese), 26 July 2007
- "第一节 机车运用", www.shtong.gov.cn (in Chinese)
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