BNR class N explained

BNR class N
Powertype:Steam
Builder:Beyer, Peacock & Company
Serialnumber:6583–6598
Builddate:1929
Totalproduction:16
Whytetype:4-8-0+0-8-4
Uicclass:(2′D)(D2′) h4t
Driverdiameter:4feet
Fueltype:Coal
Watercap:10000impgal
Boilerpressure:2102NaN2
Firearea:69.8square feet
Superheaterarea:642square feet
Cylindercount:Four, outside
Cylindersize:NaNx
Valvegear:Walschaerts
Valvetype:Piston valves
Maxspeed:45mph
Tractiveeffort:696552NaN2
Locale:South Eastern Railway zone
Firstrundate:1929
Lastrundate:1970
Retiredate:1970
Withdrawndate:1970
Preservedunits:No. 811 and 815
Currentowner:National Rail Museum, New Delhi and Kharagpur Workshops

The Bengal Nagpur Railway class N Garratt was a class of steam locomotives built by Beyer, Peacock & Company in England in 1929. At the time of their construction, they had the largest water capacity of any Garratt, in addition to being the largest locomotives in India. With the success of HSG, this class followed. Due to their heavy weight, they were restricted to 90 lb/yard rails. They had straight-ported cylinders. It is not known if this suited them for hauling slow, heavy coal traffic. Like HSG, they were used Chakradharpur-Jharsuguda and also at Anara-Tatanagar sections. After electrification, they were used at Rourkela. They could haul 2400 tonnes on a 1 in 100 gradient.[1]

In 2006 Locomotive 811 at Kharagpur workshop was reactivated and used on a few runs before being stored again. In order to activate the locomotive, many parts were borrowed from locomotive 815 at the Delhi Railway Museum. The parts were later returned and refitted to 815 which itself was given a cosmetic overhaul. In 2018 a second attempt to activate 811 was made. This time all missing parts were fabricated in a US$400,000 refurbishment that was put out to public tender. The locomotive has made just one trial trip up to the end of 2019.

Technical specifications

Boiler diameter 7feet
Boiler area 3112square feet
Max Train load

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 5Brinkster . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131023060832/http://sundar.brinkster.net/Garratt.htm . 2013-10-23 .