EAR 27 class

The EAR 27 class, previously known as the EAR MR class, was a sub-class of 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) gauge 2-8-2 USATC S118 Class steam locomotives operated by the East African Railways (EAR), and, with one exception, previously by the Malayan Railways.

East African Railways 27 class
East African Railways publicity photograph of TR no. 803, c. 1953
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder American Locomotive Company (4) Baldwin Locomotive Works (8) Davenport Locomotive Works (4) East African Railways (1) Model USATC S118 Class Build date 1944 (16), 1953 (1) Total produced 17
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-8-2  • UIC 1′D1' h2 Gauge 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) Leading dia. 26 in (660 mm) Driver dia. 48 in (1,219 mm) Adhesive weight 35.7 long tons (36.3 t) Loco weight 52.0 long tons (52.8 t) Fuel type Wood → Oil Fuel capacity 1,350 imp gal (6,100 L; 1,620 US gal) Water cap. 4,166 imp gal (18,940 L; 5,003 US gal) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 27.8 sq ft (2.58 m2) Boiler pressure 180 psi (1.24 MPa) Heating surface: ​  • Firebox 115 sq ft (10.7 m2)  • Tubes   1,247 sq ft (115.9 m2)  • Total surface 1,736 sq ft (161.3 m2) Superheater: ​  • Heating area 374 sq ft (34.7 m2) Cylinders 2, outside Cylinder size 16 in × 24 in (406 mm × 610 mm) Valve gear Indirect Walschaerts Loco brake Vacuum brake Train brakes Vacuum brake
Performance figures Maximum speed 85 km/h (53 mph) Tractive effort 19,550 lbf (86.96 kN)
Career Operators Tanganyika Railway (TR) → East African Railways (EAR) Class TR: MR class EAR: 27 class Number in class 17 Numbers TR: 800–805 EAR: 2701–2717 Delivered 1929
[1]

Service history

The first eight members of the class were built in 1944, and were acquired second hand by the Tanganyika Railway (TR) from the Malayan Railways in 1949. Those locomotives entered service on the Central Line in Tanganyika in 1949. By that time, the TR had been succeeded by the EAR, which designated them for a very short time as its MR class, but then, as part of a comprehensive reclassification of all of its locomotives, redesignated and renumbered them as its 27 class.^[2]

In 1950, the EAR acquired eight further 27 class locomotives from the Malayan Railways, and in 1953 another 27 class locomotive was built in the EAR's Dar es Salaam Workshops, using spare parts acquired from the Nigerian Railways. The 27 class therefore eventually reached a total of 17 locomotives.^[3][4]

Class list

The builders, build year and fleet numbers of each member of the class were as follows:^[5]

Builders Built TR number EAR number Notes Alco 1944 800 2701 Alco 1944 801 2702 Alco 1944 802 2703 Baldwin 1944 803 2704 Baldwin 1944 804 2705 Baldwin 1944 805 2706 Davenport 1944 806 2707 Davenport 1944 807 2708 Davenport 1944 – 2709 Davenport 1944 – 2710 Baldwin 1944 – 2711 Baldwin 1944 – 2712 Baldwin 1944 – 2713 Baldwin 1944 – 2714 Baldwin 1944 – 2715 Alco 1944 – 2716 East African Railways 1953 – 2717 Built in the Dar es Salaam Workshops, using spare parts acquired from the Nigerian Railways

See also

• History of rail transport in Tanzania