Chinese Government Railways Class KF
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerColonel Kenneth Cantlie
BuilderVulcan Foundry
Build date1935—1936
Specifications
Configuration:
  Whyte4-8-4
Gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)
Leading dia.900 mm (35.43 in)
Driver dia.1,750 mm (68.90 in)
Trailing dia.1,050 mm (41.34 in)
Length28.410 m (93 ft 3 in)
Adhesive weight67.96 tonnes (66.89 long tons; 74.91 short tons)
Total weight259.5 tonnes (255.4 long tons; 286.0 short tons)
Fuel typeCoal (FDP)
Firebox:
  Grate area394.64 m2 (4,247.9 sq ft)
Boiler pressure15.5 kgf/cm2 (1.52 MPa; 220 psi)
CylindersTwo, outside
Cylinder size530 mm × 749 mm (20+78 in × 29+12 in)
Performance figures
Maximum speed120 km/h (75 mph)
Tractive effort193.00 kN (43,390 lbf)
Career
OperatorsChina Railway
LocaleChina
Delivered1935-1936
Retired1977
Preserved2

The Class KF (聯盟型, 'Confederation class', re-designated "ㄎㄈ" or "KF") was a 4-8-4 mainline passenger steam locomotive type built in the United Kingdom by the Vulcan Foundry for the railways of China. Between 1935 and 1936, 24 locomotives were built for the GuangzhouHankou Railway designated as the 600 series.[1] Following World War II, and the establishment of the People's Republic of China, the Chinese Government assumed control of the railway and re-designated the engines in 1954 as the "ㄎㄈ" class ("ㄎㄈ" being the Zhuyin characters for "K(o)-F(o)") from the first two syllables of "Confederation", and in 1959 as the "KF" class.

History

In July 1933, the Guangdong–Hankou Railway was in need of new motive power for their being finished Guangzhou to Shaoguan line (capital of Guangdong Province to the northern border of the province). However, this particular line had been burdened with gradients of around two percent as well as curves with less than 250 m (0.16 mi) radii, and low capacity bridges. This necessitated a locomotive design that had more tractive effort while retaining a low axle load. The railway approached the Vulcan Foundry in Britain, who devised a series of 24 locomotives of a 4-8-4 wheel arrangement.

The engines were a significant improvement over previous designs, incorporating a more efficient E-type superheater and duplex steam valve to allow better steaming without enlarging the boiler. The 4-8-4 wheel arrangement allowed for better weight distribution as well as improved handling on sharp curves. When the Changsha - Canton Railway was completed in October 1936, the class KF 1 - 24 locomotives were transferred to operate over northern section between Hankou and Changsha on this new main line. During World War II the locomotive was transferred to Guangxi Province through Hunan–Guangxi Railway, free from Japanese occupied zone. After the establishment of the People's Republic of China, the locomotives were repaired and upgraded[2] to use in Shanghai–Nanjing Railway.

Most of the class KF survived the 1937 - 1945 Sino-Japanese war. They retained their old classification and continued in service up to early 1970s. Builder details:

  • KF 1-16 2D2-h2 520x725 1752 Vulcan Foundry 4668 - 4683 / 1935 Renumbered to 'KF' 601 - 616
  • KF 17-24 2D2-h2 520x725 1752 Vulcan Foundry 4696 - 4703 / 1936 Renumbered to 'KF' 617 - 624

Preservation

Two examples are known to have been preserved. KF7 was presented by the Chinese Government to the National Railway Museum, England in 1981.[3][4] Another KF class locomotive is preserved at the Beijing Railway Museum, China.[5]

References

  1. "鉄道ファン" [Japan Railfan Magazine (Tetsudō Fan)] (in Japanese). Vol. 10, no. 111. KOYUSHA Co., Ltd. p. 35. Retrieved 25 April 2022. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  2. "机车检修" [Inspection and Repair of locomotive]. 上海铁路志 [History of Shanghai Railways]. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014.
  3. A Present from China The Railway Magazine issue 966 October 1981 page 496
  4. Chinese Government Railways steam locomotive 4-8-4 KF7 class, No 607, 1935, National Railway Museum
  5. "Preserved locomotives.", www.railwaysofchina.com, archived from the original on 15 July 2011, retrieved 25 May 2012
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