KUR EC2 class

The KUR EC2 class, later known as the EAR 52 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 the Kenya-Uganda Railway (KUR) and the East African Railways (EAR).

Kenya-Uganda Railway EC2 class East African Railways 52 class
East African Railways publicity photograph of no. 5202 Kavirondo, c. 1953
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder North British Locomotive Company Serial number 24070–24079 Build date 1931 Total produced 10
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 88 long tons (89 t) Loco weight 142.1 long tons (144.4 t) Fuel type Oil Fuel capacity 2,375 imp gal (10,800 L; 2,852 US gal) 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) (180 psi (1.24 MPa)) Heating surface: ​  • Firebox 194 sq ft (18.0 m2)  • Tubes   1,856 sq ft (172.4 m2)  • Total surface 2,430 sq ft (226 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 42,600 lbf (189.49 kN)
Career Operators Kenya-Uganda Railway (KUR) → East African Railways (EAR) Class KUR: EC2 class EAR: 52 class Number in class 10 Numbers KUR: 67–76 EAR: 5201–5210
[1]

Production

The ten members of the class were ordered by the KUR. Unusually, they were built by North British Locomotive Company in Glasgow, Scotland, instead of Beyer, Peacock & Co., the builder of all the KUR's other Garratt locomotives.^[2]

Service history

The whole class entered service in 1931, and its members were later operated by the KUR's successor, the EAR, both in Kenya/Uganda and in Tanzania.^[2]

Class list

The numbers, build dates and names of each member of the class were as follows:^[3][4]

Builder's number KUR number EAR number Name Notes 24070 67 5201 Busoga 24071 68 5202 Kavirondo 24072 69 5203 Mubendi 24073 70 5204 Turkana 24074 71 5205 Nyeri 24075 72 5206 Kiambu 24076 73 5207 Nzoia 24077 74 5208 Isiolo 24078 75 5209 Nakuru 24079 76 5210 Entebbe

See also

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