| BESA class SP [1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Indian locomotive class SP (Standard Passenger) were a class of 4-4-0 passenger broad-gauge locomotives introduced around 1905 [a] that were one of seven standard locomotive designs developed by the British Engineering Standards Committee (BESC) (later the British Engineering Standards Association (BESA)) for the broad-gauge railways of British India.
British Indian railways operated numerous steam locomotives built to their own design standards, and at the turn of the century, this created a considerable strain on British locomotive manufacturers who could not keep up with demand. This led to British Indian railways outsourcing production of locomotives to non-British companies, which generated complaints from British locomotive manufacturers, [3] so the BESC was requested by the British Indian government to assemble a locomotive committee [4] which included British locomotive manufacturers to develop standard locomotive classes for British Indian railways in order to ease the strain placed on British locomotive manufacturers. [5] Its first report, compiled in 1903, [2] [a] outlined plans for British Indian standard locomotives, being revised in 1907 [6] and in 1910. [7]
 | This section needs expansionwith: allocations of locomotives, classifications, if any more design changes were added, builders. You can help by adding to it. (September 2024) |
The SP class locomotives were catalogued in the first report (1903) of the BESC on standard locomotives for the railways of the British Raj. [2] 4-4-0 (American) locomotives were preferred in India as they had good riding qualities, even on poor track conditions.[ citation needed ] Later on, in the third report (1910) of the BESC of the same, a variant with a larger boiler was outlined, which had a diameter of 5 feet 1+1⁄4 inches (1,556 mm), as used in the PT (Passenger Tank) class locomotives. [7]
Engines built to this design worked the broad-gauge lines of British Indian railways; however, only government-operated railways designated these locomotives as the SP class. [8] Beyer Peacock delivered 10 locomotives to the North Western Railway (NWR), which operated lines around the modern-day border of India and Pakistan. [9]
| | This section needs expansionwith: if superheated variants used piston or slide valves. You can help by adding to it. (September 2024) |
The design parameters outlined by the BESC were as follows: the locomotives were designed to use the same boiler as the SG (Standard Goods) class locomotives, which had a diameter of 4 feet 8+1⁄4 inches (1,429 mm), [2] and later the same boiler as the PT class locomotives [7] —the latter two locomotives built to broad gauge, two inside cylinders, a Belpaire firebox, [2] and saturated steam. The valve gear used was the Stephenson valve gear which was fitted inside the frames. [2] The grate was fitted between the two driving wheels. The diameter of the driving wheels necessitated splashers to be fitted over the wheels. A small pilot was fitted to the locomotive's buffer beam. The cab was enclosed, with the cab's rear wall being formed by the tender's half cab
A later version was designed with a superheater and designated SPS (Standard Passenger, Superheated); SP locomotives retro-fitted with superheaters were usually reclassified as SPC (Standard Passenger, Converted). [8]
Two SPS locomotives, operated by Pakistan Railways until the late 20th century, are preserved. SPS 3157 is preserved in the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) in Manchester, having been repatriated in 1982 after being withdrawn a year prior. [10] The other example, SPS 3078, is on display at Faisalabad Railway Station in Pakistan. [11] [ unreliable source? ]
Indian Railways operates India's railway system and comes under the purview of the Ministry of Railways of Government of India. As of 2023, it maintains over 108,706 km (67,547 mi) of tracks and operates over 13,000 trains daily with a fleet of 14,800 locomotives. The railways primarily operates a fleet of electric and diesel locomotives along with a few compressed natural gas (CNG) locomotives. Steam locomotives are operated on mountain railways and on heritage trains.
The Indian locomotive class WDM-2 is a class of diesel–electric locomotive that was developed in 1962 by American Locomotive Company (ALCO) for Indian Railways. The model name stands for broad gauge (W), Diesel (D), Mixed traffic (M) engine, 2nd generation (2). They entered service in 1962. A total of more than 2,700 WDM-2 was built at ALCO and Banaras Locomotive Works, Varanasi between 1962 and 1998, which made them the most numerous class of mainline diesel locomotive until its successor the WDM-3A.
The Indian Railways WG class was a type of broad gauge 2-8-2 goods locomotive introduced in the 1950s. 2,450 of the class were built between 1950 and 1970.
The Indian locomotive class XA was a class of light axle load 4-6-2 "Pacific" type steam locomotives used on 5 ft 6 in broad gauge lines in British India, and then in post-partition India and Pakistan.
The Indian locomotive class XE was a class of 2-8-2 "Mikado" type steam locomotives used on 5 ft 6 in broad gauge lines in India. The model was the largest of the "Pacific" class, with a 7 ft diameter boiler.
The Indian locomotive class XS was a class of experimental four-cylinder 4-6-2 "Pacific" type steam locomotives used on 5 ft 6 in broad gauge lines in British India, and then in post-partition Pakistan.
The Indian locomotive class XP was a class of experimental 4-6-2 "Pacific" type steam locomotives used on 5 ft 6 in broad gauge lines in India.
The Indian locomotive class WL of 1939 was a class of 4-6-2 "Pacific"-type steam locomotives used on 5 ft 6 in broad gauge lines in British India, and then in post-partition Pakistan.
The Indian locomotive class XC was a class of heavy axle load 4-6-2 "Pacific" type steam locomotives used on 5 ft 6 in broad gauge lines in British India, and then in post-partition India and Pakistan.
The Indian locomotive class XB was a 4-6-2 passenger locomotive with a 17-long-ton 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 LMS Railway in UK. Copper firebox had combustion chamber extension.
The Indian locomotive class SG is a class of Indian steam locomotives used for goods trains. Its class designation, SG, stands for Standard Goods. It was, by number of locomotives built, one of the largest steam locomotive classes built in the United Kingdom. It was one of the BESA locomotives developed by the British Engineering Standards Committee, later called the British Engineering Standards Association (BESA).
The Indian locomotive class WDM-3 was a type of diesel-hydraulic locomotive that was developed by Henschel for Indian Railways in 1962. The model name "WDM-3" stood for broad gauge (W), Diesel (D), Mixed traffic (M) engine, 3rd generation (3). These locomotives were put into service between 1970 and 1971, and a total of eight were built between 1962 and 1970. However, they were decommissioned at Gooty in 1995 and are now retired from service.
The Indian locomotive class YDM-2 is a class of diesel-Hydraulic locomotive that was developed in 1986-90 by Chittaranjan Locomotive Works for Indian Railways. The model name stands for Metre gauge (Y), Diesel (D), Mixed traffic (M) engine, 2nd generation (2). They entered service in 1986. A total of 41 YDM-2 locomotives was built between 1986 and 1990.
The Indian locomotive class YDM-5 is a class of diesel–electric locomotive that was developed in 1964 by General Motors (GM-EMD) for Indian Railways. The model name stands for Metre gauge (Y), Diesel (D), Mixed traffic (M) engine, 5th generation (5). They entered service in 1964. A total of 25 YDM-5 locomotives was built between 1963 and 1964.
The Indian locomotive class YDM-3 is a class of diesel–electric locomotive that was developed in 1964 by GM-EMD for Indian Railways. The model name stands for Metre gauge (Y), Diesel (D), Mixed traffic (M) engine, 3rd generation (3). They entered service in 1962. A total of 30 YDM-3 locomotives was built between 1961 and 1962.
The Class AP was a broad gauge tender steam locomotive introduced around 1907 for passenger trains on the railways in British India. Its class designation, AP, stands for Atlantic Passenger Locomotive, where Atlantic refers to the wheel arrangement of the same name. It was one of the BESA locomotives developed by the British Engineering Standards Committee, later called the British Engineering Standards Association (BESA).
The Class HP was a 4-6-0 broad gauge passenger steam locomotive introduced in 1906 on the railways of British India. It was one of the BESA locomotives developed by the British Engineering Standards Committee, later called the British Engineering Standards Association (BESA).
The PT class was a broad gauge tank locomotive designed to haul passenger trains on the railways in British India. It was one of the BESA locomotives developed by the British Engineering Standards Committee, later called the British Engineering Standards Association (BESA).
The Class HG is a 2-8-0 goods steam locomotive, which was one of seven standard classes of broad gauge steam locomotives designed by the British Engineering Standards Association (BESA) for use in the British Raj in the mid-1900s.
The Indian locomotive class HT were a class of 2-8-2T broad-gauge tank locomotives that were one of seven standard broad-gauge locomotive designs developed by the British Engineering Standards Committee (BESC) for the broad-gauge railways of British India.
[The inability of British locomotive manufacturers to meet demand] resulted in orders being placed on German and American manufacturers and ... protest was made on behalf of the [British locomotive manufacturers] in the British Parliament.
... with ... instructions received ... from the Secretary of State for India ...
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