Sentetsu Shiki class railcars explained

Sentetsu Shiki class
Powertype:Steam
Builder:Shiki1: Kisha Seizō
Shiki2: Sentinel-Cammell
Builddate:Shiki1: 1923
Shiki2: 1929
Totalproduction:Shiki1: 4
Shiki2: 2
Whytetype:Shiki1: 2-2-0T+2
Driverdiameter:Shiki1: 1370mm
Length:Shiki1: 6936mm
(power unit only)
Width:Shiki1: 2796mm
Height:Shiki1: 4281mm
Weightondrivers:Shiki1: 16.9t
Locoweight:Shiki1: 28.5t
Fueltype:Coal
Fuelcap:Shiki1: 0.83t
Watercap:Shiki1: 3.61m2
Smalltubediameter:Shiki1: 258 x 38mm
Boilerpressure:Shiki1: 13kgf/cm2
Shiki2: 21kgf/cm2
Firearea:Shiki1: 0.01m2
Tubearea:39.2m2
Fireboxarea:Shiki1: 5.2m2
Totalsurface:Shiki1: 44.4m2
Cylindersize:Shiki1: 250mm406mm
Valvegear:Shiki1: Walschaerts
Maxspeed:Shiki1: 75km/h
Tractiveeffort:Shiki1: 20.1kN
Locobrakes:Shiki1: Air brake
Operator:Chosen Government Railway
Operatorclass:シキ1 (시그1); シキ2 (시그2)
Numinclass:Shiki1: 4
Shiki2: 2
Fleetnumbers:Shiki1: シキ1-1–シキ1-4
Shiki2: シキ2-1–シキ2-2
Firstrundate:Shiki1: 5 July 1923
Shiki2: 1929
Withdrawndate:Shiki1: 1924 (rebuilt)

The Shiki or Sigeu (Japanese シキ, Korean 시그) class railcars were a class of 3rd class steam railcars of the Chosen Government Railway (Sentetsu). There were two classes of such railcars, one built in Japan and one built in the United Kingdom.

Shiki1 class (シキ1)

In 1923, Kisha Seizō of Japan built four steam railcars for Sentetsu, which were essentially a small tank steam locomotive with a 2-2-0 wheel arrangement built onto one end of a passenger carriage. Intended for use for commuter trains on the Gyeongin Line, the railcar pulled two passenger cars in active service. However, performance was far from satisfactory, with many complaints about excessive vibration being received. As a result, in 1924, after barely a year in service, one was scrapped, and the remaining three were converted to 2-2-0 tank locomotives by removing the integrated passenger compartment. A second one was scrapped in 1927, leaving only two locomotives.[1] These two remained in service until at least 1940,[1] but their subsequent fate is unknown.

Shiki2 class (シキ2)

Despite the poor experience with the first steam railcars, Sentetsu imported two geared steam railcars from Sentinel-Cammell in England in 1929. These had a vertical boiler generating superheated steam of 21kgf/cm2 pressure, which fed a single, horizontally mounted, 6-cylinder engine producing 30hp, and had a lightweight body integrated with the underframe. These steam railcars later proved very helpful in designing Sentetsu's first petrol-powered railcars. Both units remained in service until at least 1940, but their subsequent fate is unknown.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Byeon, Seong-u. 1999. 한국철도차량 100년사. Korean Railways Rolling Stock Centennial. ko. Seoul. Korea Rolling Stock Technical Corp..