KUR EC1 class

Kenya-Uganda Railway EC1 class East African Railways 50/51 classes
East African Railways publicity photograph of no. 5017, c. 1953 East African Railways publicity photograph of no. 5017, c. 1953
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Beyer, Peacock & Co. Serial number 6429–6440, 6516–6523 6637–6638 Build date 1927 (20), 1930 (2) Total produced 22
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-8-2+2-8-4 (Garratt)  • UIC (2′D1′)(1′D2′) h4 Gauge 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) Driver dia. 43 in (1,092 mm) Adhesive weight 83.9 long tons (85.2 t) Loco weight 130.9 long tons (133.0 t) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 6 long tons (6.1 t) Water cap. 5,250 imp gal (23,900 L; 6,300 US gal) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 43.6 sq ft (4.05 m2) Boiler pressure 170 psi (1.17 MPa) Heating surface: ​  • Firebox 174 sq ft (16.2 m2)  • Tubes   1,863 sq ft (173.1 m2)  • Total surface 2,417 sq ft (224.5 m2) Superheater: ​  • Type Inside  • Heating area 380 sq ft (35 m2) Cylinders 4 (Garratt) Cylinder size 16+1⁄2 in × 22 in (419 mm × 559 mm) Valve gear Walschaerts Loco brake Westinghouse type Train brakes Westinghouse type
Performance figures Tractive effort 40,255 lbf (179.06 kN)
Career Operators Kenya-Uganda Railway (KUR) → East African Railways (EAR) Class KUR: EC1 class EAR: 50/51 classes Number in class 22 Numbers KUR: 45–66 EAR: 5001–5018           5101–5102 First run 1927

The KUR EC1 class, later known as the EAR 50 class and the EAR 51 class, was a class of 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) gauge 4-8-2+2-8-4 Garratt-type articulated steam locomotives operated by Kenya-Uganda Railway (KUR) and the East African Railways (EAR).

Service history

The first twenty members of the class were built in 1927 by Beyer, Peacock & Co. in Manchester, England, for the KUR. They entered service in 1928, and, with two exceptions, were later operated by the KUR's successor, the EAR, as its 50 class.

The remaining two members of the EC1 class were built and entered service in 1930, and were different in some respects. They later became the EAR's 51 class.

All of the former EC1 class members were withdrawn from service in the 1950s. Most of their leading bogies (trucks) were salvaged for use in converting EAR 13 class locomotives from 4-8-2Ts to 4-8-4Ts, to address the 13 class's initial tendency to de-rail when operating in reverse.

Class list

The builder's numbers, build years, fleet numbers and names of each member of the EC1 class were as follows:

Builder's number Built KUR number EAR number Name Notes 6429 1928 45 5001 5430 1928 46 5002 6431 1928 47 5003 Toro 6432 1928 48 5004 Masai 6433 1928 49 5005 Nyanzi 6434 1928 50 5006 Meru 6435 1928 51 – Sold to Indo-China as no. 205 6436 1928 52 5007 Masaka 6437 1928 53 – Sold to Indo-China as no. 206 6438 1928 54 5008 Nandi 6439 1928 55 5009 Bunyoro 6440 1928 56 5010 6516 1928 57 5011 Kikuyu 6517 1928 58 5012 Ankole 6518 1928 59 5013 6519 1928 60 5014 6520 1928 61 5015 6521 1928 62 5016 Londiani 6522 1928 63 5017 Ukamba 6523 1928 64 5018 Machakos 6637 1930 65 5101 Laikipia 6638 1930 66 5102

Works photo of KUR EC1 no. 66

Works photo of KUR EC1 no. 66

See also

• Rail transport in Kenya
• Rail transport in Uganda

External links

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