Wikipedia

Indian locomotive class SP

The Indian locomotive class SP (Standard Passenger) were a class of 4-4-0 passenger broad-gauge locomotives introduced around 1905[a] that were one of seven standard locomotive designs developed by the British Engineering Standards Committee (BESC) (later the British Engineering Standards Association (BESA)) for the broad-gauge railways of British India.

BESA class SP[1]
Builder's photo of an SP class.
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerBritish Engineering Standards Association (BESA)
Builder
Build dateSP: 1904
Total producedSP: 10
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte4-4-0
Gauge5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm)
Driver dia.6 ft 2 in (1.880 m)
Wheelbase
  • 6 ft 0 in (1.829 m) +
  • 7 ft 5 in (2.261 m) +
  • 9 ft 5 in (2.870 m)
Axle load16.25 long tons (16.51 t; 18.20 short tons)
Loco weight51.00 long tons (51.82 t; 57.12 short tons)
Tender weight39.50 long tons (40.13 t; 44.24 short tons)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity7.5 long tons (7.6 t; 8.4 short tons)
Water cap.3,000 imp gal (14,000 L; 3,600 US gal)
Firebox:​
 • Grate area25.3 sq ft (2.35 m2)
Boiler:
​
 • DiameterOutside: 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
 • Tube plates11 ft 4+1⁄4 in (3.46 m)
 • Small tubes1+3⁄4 in (44 mm) × 236 off
Boiler pressure180 lbf/in2 (1.24 MPa)
Heating surface:​
 • Firebox120 sq ft (11 m2)
 • Tubes1,229.5 sq ft (114.22 m2)
CylindersTwo, inside
Cylinder size18+1⁄2 in × 26 in (470 mm × 660 mm)
Valve gearStephenson valve gear
Valve typeSlide valve
Performance figures
Tractive effort11.2 bar boiler pressure: 87 kN
9.3 bar boiler pressure: 72 kN
Career
Operators
LocaleEastern Railway zone and Northern Railway zone
DispositionAt least one preserved in the United Kingdom and another in Pakistan.
References: [2]

Background

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British Indian railways operated numerous steam locomotives built to their own design standards, and near and at the turn of the century, this created a considerable strain on British locomotive manufacturers who could not keep up with demand.[3][4] This led to British Indian railways outsourcing production of locomotives to non-British companies, which generated complaints from British locomotive manufacturers;[5] amidst this situation, proposals for standardisation of British Indian steam locomotives were made as early as the 1870s, in which there were prior plans to standardise locomotive designs for British Indian railways that never went through;[6] but later, a locomotive standardisation scheme for British Indian railways was finally realised when the BESC was requested by the British Indian government to develop standard locomotive classes for British Indian railways. [7][8][4] Its first report, compiled in 1903,[2][a] outlined plans for British Indian standard locomotives, being revised in 1907[9] and in 1910.[10]

History

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The SP class locomotives were catalogued in the first report (1903) of the BESC on standard locomotives for the railways of the British Raj.[2] 4-4-0 (American) locomotives were preferred in India as they had good riding qualities, even on poor track conditions.[citation needed] Later on, in the third report (1910) of the BESC of the same, a variant with a larger boiler was outlined, which had a diameter of 5 feet 1+1⁄4 inches (1,556 mm), as used in the PT (Passenger Tank) class locomotives.[10]

Engines built to this design worked the broad-gauge lines of British Indian railways; however, only government-operated railways designated these locomotives as the SP class.[11] Beyer, Peacock and Company delivered 10 locomotives to the North Western Railway (NWR),[12] which became the Pakistan Western Railway and the Eastern Punjab Railway upon the partition of India.

Design

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The design parameters outlined by the BESC were as follows: the locomotives were designed to use the same boiler as the SG (Standard Goods) class locomotives, which had a diameter of 4 feet 8+1⁄4 inches (1,429 mm),[2] and later the same boiler as the PT class locomotives[10]—the latter two locomotives built to broad gauge, two inside cylinders, a Belpaire firebox,[2] and saturated steam. The valve gear used was the Stephenson valve gear which was fitted inside the frames.[2] The grate was fitted between the two driving wheels. The diameter of the driving wheels necessitated splashers to be fitted over the wheels. A small pilot was fitted to the locomotive's buffer beam. The cab was enclosed, with the cab's rear wall being formed by the tender's half cab.

A later version was designed with a superheater and designated SPS (Standard Passenger, Superheated); SP locomotives retrofitted with superheaters were usually reclassified as SPC (Standard Passenger, Converted).[11]

Preservation

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Pakistan Railway SPS 3157 preserved in the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI), Manchester

Two SPS locomotives, operated by Pakistan Railways until the late 20th century, are preserved. SPS 3157 is preserved in the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) in Manchester, having been repatriated in 1982 after being withdrawn a year prior.[13] The other example, SPS 3078, is on display at Faisalabad Railway Station in Pakistan.[14][unreliable source?]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b The BESC report that first catalogued this locomotive design was compiled in 1903, but was not published until 1905 (British Standards Institution).

References

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  1. ^ "SG". Archived from the original on 6 January 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Report of the Locomotive Committee on Standard Locomotives for Indian Railways (Report). British Standards Institution. November 1903. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  3. ^ "History of Steam: Broad Gauge". ISRS website. Indian Steam Railway Society (ISRS). Archived from the original on 29 June 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2024. As the various railways grew in size and traffic at different pace, demand for larger and more powerful locomotives also increased. Due to individual practices followed by different railways and the local tastes the various railway systems adopted to their own configuration of engines and this led to considerable delay in supply of these engines from various manufacturers in England.
  4. ^ a b Bhandari, R. R. "Steam in History". IRFCA website. Indian Railways Fan Club (IRFCA). Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  5. ^ Bhandari, R. R. "Steam in History". IRFCA website. Indian Railways Fan Club (IRFCA). Retrieved 8 September 2024. [The inability of British locomotive manufacturers to meet demand] resulted in orders being placed on German and American manufacturers and ... protest was made on behalf of the [British locomotive manufacturers] in the British Parliament.
  6. ^ "History of Steam: Broad Gauge". ISRS website. Indian Steam Railway Society (ISRS). Archived from the original on 29 June 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2024. Attempts at standardisation of locomotives were made as early as 1872 and 1879 but these were not conclusive.
  7. ^ "Indian locomotive practice". The Locomotive, Railway Carriage & Wagon Review. Vol. 14. London: Locomotive Publishing Company. 15 June 1908. p. 103. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  8. ^ Report of the Locomotive Committee on Standard Locomotives for Indian Railways (Report). British Standards Institution. November 1903. p. 2. Retrieved 8 September 2024. The Locomotive Committee beg leave to report that, in accordance with instructions received through the Engineering Standards Committee from the Secretary of State for India, and with the assistance of a Conference between the Consulting Engineers and Locomotive Manufacturers of the country, they have carefully considered the questions of the most suitable designs of Locomotives for use on the Railways of India, and of the standardisation of their component parts.
  9. ^ Second Report of the Locomotive Committee on Standard Locomotives for Indian Railways (Report). British Standards Institution. February 1907. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  10. ^ a b c "[Third Report of the Locomotive Committee on Standard Locomotives for Indian Railways]". Indian Industries and Power. Vol. 7. 1909. p. 275. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  11. ^ a b Hughes 1979, p. 18.
  12. ^ Shearsmith, Jan (21 September 2017). "Pakistan Railways Engine No. S/PS 3157, Part One: Production". Museum of Science and Industry Blog. Manchester: Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI). Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  13. ^ "From Empire to independence: The journeys of Pakistan Railways Locomotive SPS 3157". Science Industry Museum. 21 May 2024. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  14. ^ "IR (NWR) 4-4-0 No. 3078 (78)". www.steamlocomotive.info. 10 July 2021. Retrieved 11 November 2024.

Bibliography

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