The Class KF (聯盟型, 'Confederation class', re-designated "ㄎㄈ" or "KF") was a 4-8-4 mainline passenger steam locomotive type built in the United Kingdom by the Vulcan Foundry for the railways of China. Between 1935 and 1936, 24 locomotives were built for the Guangzhou–Hankou Railway, designated as the 600 series.[1] 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 in 1954 as the "ㄎㄈ" class ("ㄎㄈ" being the Zhuyin characters for "K(o)-F(o)") from the first two syllables of "Confederation", and in 1959 as the "KF" class.
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History
editIn July 1933, the Guangdong–Hankou Railway was in need of new motive power for their being finished Guangzhou to Shaoguan line (capital of Guangdong Province to the northern border of the province). 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) radii, and low capacity bridges. This necessitated a locomotive design that had more tractive effort while retaining a low axle load. The Ministry of Railways approached the Vulcan Foundry in Britain, who devised a series of locomotives of a 4-8-4 wheel arrangement. 24 were ordered in 1935 and delivered to China in 1935-36. Under the Nationalist Government, the engines were numbered 600-623.[2]
Although designed by an Englishman, Col. Kenneth Cantlie, and built by an English firm, the class followed American design paradigms, featuring an automatic stoker, and a 4-8-4 configuration never used in the United Kingdom. One exception was the low axle load of 16½ tons.[2]
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[improper synthesis?] .When the Changsha-Canton Railway was completed in October 1936, locomotives 600-623 were transferred to operate over northern section between Hankou and Changsha on this new main line.[citation needed] During World War II the locomotives were transferred to Guangxi Province through Hunan–Guangxi Railway, away from Japanese-occupied territory.
Out of 24 engines built, 17 survived the Second Sino-Japanese war.[2] After the establishment of the People's Republic in 1949, the locomotives were repaired, upgraded,[3] and reassigned the numbers 1-17[2] for use on the Shanghai–Nanjing Railway. They retained their old classification KF 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
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Two examples are known to have been preserved. KF7 was presented by the Chinese Government to the National Railway Museum, England in 1981.[2][4][5][failed verification] Another KF class locomotive is preserved at the China Railway Museum, China.[6]
References
edit- ^ "鉄道ファン" [Japan Railfan Magazine (Tetsudō Fan)] (in Japanese). Vol. 10, no. 111. KOYUSHA Co., Ltd. p. 35. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
{{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires|magazine=(help) - ^ a b c d e Hollingsworth, Brian; Cook, Arthur (1987). The Great Book of Trains. ISBN 0-86283-778-2.
- ^ "机车检修" [Inspection and Repair of locomotive]. 上海铁路志 [History of Shanghai Railways]. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014.
- ^ A Present from China The Railway Magazine issue 966 October 1981 page 496
- ^ Chinese Government Railways steam locomotive 4-8-4 KF7 class, No 607, 1935, National Railway Museum[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Preserved locomotives.", www.railwaysofchina.com, archived from the original on 15 July 2011, retrieved 25 May 2012
External links
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- 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, archived from the original on 14 November 2012, retrieved 25 May 2012
- 第一节 机车运用, www.shtong.gov.cn (in Chinese), archived from the original on 19 July 2014