https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Indian_locomotive_class_XBIndian locomotive class XB - Revision history2026-08-04T04:23:10ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Indian_locomotive_class_XB&diff=122735&oldid=prev>InternetArchiveBot at 01:52, 23 January 20202020-01-23T01:52:50Z<p></p>
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{{Infobox locomotive<br />
| name = Class XB<br />
| image = Indian State XB class 1927 photo.jpg<br />
| caption = Vulcan Foundry works photograph of an XB <br />
| powertype = Steam <br />
| designer = M/s Rendel Palmer and Tritton<br />
| builder = [[Vulcan Foundry]]<br />[[Armstrong Whitworth]] (12)<br />[[North British Locomotive Company]] (4)<br />
| builddate = 1927–1936<br />
| totalproduction = 99 <br />
| whytetype = [[4-6-2]]<br />
| uicclass = 2′C1′ h2<br />
| gauge = {{RailGauge|5ft6in|lk=on}}<br />
| leadingdiameter = {{convert|3|ft|0|in|m|3|abbr=on}}<br />
| driverdiameter = {{convert|6|ft|2|in|m|3|abbr=on}}<br />
| trailingdiameter = {{convert|3|ft|7|in|m|3|abbr=on}}<br />
| wheelbase = {{convert|13|ft|2|in|m|3|abbr=on}}<br />
| axleload = {{convert|17|LT|t ST}} <br />
| locoweight = {{convert|90.2|LT|t ST}}<br />
| tenderweight = {{convert|49.4|LT|t ST}}<br />
| fueltype = [[Coal]]<br />
| fuelcap = ''6-wheel:'' {{convert|10|LT|t ST}}<br />''8-wheel:'' {{convert|7.5|LT|t ST}}<br />
| watercap = ''6-wheel:'' {{convert|4000|impgal|abbr=on}},<br />''8-wheel:'' {{convert|4500|impgal|abbr=on}}<br />
| boilerpressure = {{convert|180|psi|MPa|2|abbr=on}}<br />
| firearea = {{convert|45|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}<br />
| tubesandflues = {{convert|1642|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}<br />
| fireboxarea = {{convert|198|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}<br />
| superheaterarea = {{convert|463|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}<br />
| cylindercount = Two, outside<br />
| cylindersize = {{convert|21.5|x|28|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}<br />
| valvegear = [[Walschaerts valve gear|Walschaerts]]<br />
| maxspeed = {{convert|72|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}}<br />
| tractiveeffort = {{convert|26760|lbf|kN|2|abbr=on}}<br />
| factorofadhesion = 4.33<br />
| operator = [[Indian Railways]] <br />
| locale = [[East Indian Railway Company|EIR]], [[Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway|M&SM]] and [[Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway|BB&CI]]<br />
| scrapdate = 1983<br />
| disposition = all scrapped but one preserved in Pakistan<br />
}}<br />
The '''Indian locomotive class XB''' was a [[4-6-2]] (or ''Pacific'') passenger locomotive with a {{convert|17|LT|t ST|adj=on}} axle load. It had a lot of problems. It was built with the help of British Engineering Standards Association (BESA). It was up to date as any locomotive in England. It had American 3-point suspension with compensating levers for indifferent tracks in India. The trailing wheels were mounted on a Cartazzi truck as it was for the rest of British Pacifics at the time. Goodall-type drawgear was fitted between engine and tender to facilitate free movement. They still proved to be successful as they survived till the 1980s. The modifications in India to this class was implemented in [[London, Midland and Scottish Railway|LMS]] Railway in [[United Kingdom|UK]]. Copper firebox had combustion chamber extension.<ref name=Sundar.Brinkster>{{cite web |url=http://www5.brinkster.com/sundar/xb.htm |title=XB 4-6-2 |access-date=30 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002075008/http://www5.brinkster.com/sundar/xb.htm |archive-date=2 October 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref><br />
<br />
==Problems==<br />
Like other X series Pacifics, it was prone to frame fractures. One unit had 9 fractures in 9 years. 18 XBs of the [[East Indian Railway Company]] (EIR) spent 3 years in repair shop, out of 8 years. Again due to it being an X series Pacific, it had chronic [[coupling rod]] failure. Tubeplates had to be frequently changed due to cracking in the radius of flanges. Cross-sectional area of the boiler was too small for the [[flue gas]] generated by the [[firebox (steam engine)|firebox]]. Tube cross-section area to the grate was only 9%. The boiler was poor, having pressure below {{convert|150|psi}}. Testing showed that the engine was unable to haul a {{convert|350|LT|adj=on}} train at {{convert|60|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}} at 33% cylinder cut-off. It oscillated laterally at a right-angle to the tracks causing damage to the tracks. In 9 years, there were 68 such cases due to XB and XC class locomotives.<br />
<br />
==Development==<br />
The trailing bogie was moved {{convert|30|in}} back and engine was fitted with American drawgear. But this did not work. In 1937, Bihta accident occurred with the engine jumping the tracks and derailing at {{convert|60|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}}. The tracks were twisted like noodles. 100 people lost their lives. The Pacific Locomotive Committee was formed on public demand. Robert Leguille came up with a solution. He decided to fit leading and trailing bogie with stiffer side springs and better damping. He was proven right with experiments. The [[Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway]] and [[Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway]] followed his advice and EIR restricted the engines to slow-speed trains.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
!colspan=2| Technical specifications<br />
|-<br />
| Length between tube plates || {{convert|18|ft|6|in|m|2|abbr=on}}<br />
|-<br />
| 95 small tubes diameter || {{convert|2.25|in|mm|2|abbr=on}}<br />
|-<br />
| 22 smoke tubes diameter || {{convert|5.5|in|mm|1|abbr=on}}<br />
|-<br />
| 4 arch tubes || {{convert|3|in|mm|1|abbr=on}}<br />
|-<br />
| 22 smoke tubes diameter || {{convert|5.5|in|mm|1|abbr=on}}<br />
|-<br />
| Superheater || 22 elements<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Preservation==<br />
No XB's from Indian Railways have survived Preservation today but in Pakistan, an ex-EBR XB class loco, 450 survives and is preserved at Lahore workshops.<br />
<br />
==Trains hauled by XB==<br />
* [[West coast express (India)|West Coast Express]]<br />
* [[Darjeeling Mail (India)|Darjeeling Mail]]<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
<br />
*[[History of rail transport in India]]<br />
*[[Indian Railways]]<br />
*[[Locomotives of India]]<br />
*[[Rail transport in India]]<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
*{{Hughes-IndianLocos1}}<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
{{commons category|Indian locomotive class XB}}<br />
*https://web.archive.org/web/20131002075008/http://www5.brinkster.com/sundar/xb.htm<br />
*http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-loco-steam.html<br />
<br />
{{Broad gauge locomotives of India |state=collapsed}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:4-6-2 locomotives]]<br />
[[Category:5 ft 6 in gauge locomotives]]<br />
[[Category:Vulcan Foundry locomotives]]<br />
[[Category:Armstrong Whitworth locomotives]]<br />
[[Category:NBL locomotives]]<br />
[[Category:Railway locomotives introduced in 1927]]</div>>InternetArchiveBot