EAR 31 class

The EAR 31 class was a class of oil-burning 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) gauge 2-8-4 steam locomotives. The 46 members of the class were built in 1955 by Vulcan Foundry, in Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire (now part of Merseyside), England, for the East African Railways (EAR). They were a lighter, branch-line version of the EAR 30 class, and worked from various sheds throughout the EAR system.^[3][4]

East African Railways 31 class
No. 3110 Bakiga at Nairobi in 1968
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Vulcan Foundry Serial number 6228–6273 Build date 1955 Total produced 46
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-8-4  • UIC 1′D2' h2 Gauge 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) Driver dia. 48 in (1,219 mm) Adhesive weight 45 long tons (46 t) Loco weight 70.2 long tons (71.3 t) Fuel type Oil Fuel capacity 1,667 imp gal (7,580 L; 2,002 US gal) Water cap. 4,108 imp gal (18,680 L; 4,934 US gal) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 30 sq ft (2.79 m2) Boiler pressure 200 psi (1.38 MPa) Heating surface: ​  • Firebox 124 sq ft (11.5 m2)  • Tubes 1,511 sq ft (140.4 m2)  • Total surface 1,963 sq ft (182.4 m2) Superheater: ​  • Type Inside  • Heating area 328 sq ft (30.5 m2) Cylinders 2 Cylinder size 17 in × 26 in (432 mm × 660 mm) Valve gear Walschaerts Loco brake Westinghouse type Train brakes Westinghouse type
Performance figures Tractive effort 26,600 lbf (118.32 kN)
Career Operators East African Railways (EAR) Class 31 class Number in class 46 Numbers 3101–3046 Delivered 1955 First run 1955
[1][2]

Class list

The numbers and names of each member of the class were as follows:^[5]

Builder's number EAR number Name Notes 6228 3101 Baganda 6229 3102 Batoro 6230 3103 Acholi Later renamed Uganda 6231 3104 Alur 6232 3105 Bagisu 6233 3106 Bagwe 6234 3107 Bagwere 6235 3108 Bahehe 6236 3109 Bahororo 6237 3110 Bakiga 6238 3111 Bakoki 6239 3112 Bakonjo 6240 3113 Bamba 6241 3114 Banyala 6242 3115 Banyankore 6243 3016 Banyaruanda 6244 3117 Banyoro 6245 3118 Banyuli 6246 3119 Basamia 6247 3120 Basese 6248 3121 Basoga 6249 3122 Batwa 6250 3123 Bavuma Preserved at Nairobi Railway Museum as a static exhibit 6251 3124 Chope 6252 3125 Dodoth 6253 3126 Jie 6254 3127 Jonam 6255 3128 Jopadhola 6256 3129 Kakwa 6257 3130 Karamojong 6258 3131 Kenyi 6259 3132 Kumam 6260 3133 Lang'o 6261 3134 Lugbara 6262 3135 Madi 6263 3036 Sebei 6264 3137 Iteso 6265 3138 Upe 6266 3139 Pokomo 6267 3140 Rendille 6268 3141 Ribe 6269 3142 Sanye 6270 3143 Somal 6271 3144 Tharaka 6272 3145 Tsoto 6273 3146 Wamia

3101 at its naming ceremony

See also

• History of rail transport in Tanzania
• Rail transport in Kenya
• Rail transport in Uganda