EAR 31 class

Power typeSteam

Power typeSteam

BuilderVulcan Foundry

Serial number6228–6273

East African Railways 31 class
No. 3110 Bakiga at Nairobi in 1968
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Vulcan Foundry Serial number 6228–6273 Build date 1955 Total produced 46
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-8-4  • UIC 1′D2' h2 Gauge 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) Driver dia. 48 in (1,219 mm) Adhesive weight 45 long tons (46 t) Loco weight 70.2 long tons (71.3 t) Fuel type Oil Fuel capacity 1,667 imp gal (7,580 L; 2,002 US gal) Water cap. 4,108 imp gal (18,680 L; 4,934 US gal) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 30 sq ft (2.79 m2) Boiler pressure 200 psi (1.38 MPa) Heating surface: ​  • Firebox 124 sq ft (11.5 m2)  • Tubes 1,511 sq ft (140.4 m2)  • Total surface 1,963 sq ft (182.4 m2) Superheater: ​  • Type Inside  • Heating area 328 sq ft (30.5 m2) Cylinders 2 Cylinder size 17 in × 26 in (432 mm × 660 mm) Valve gear Walschaerts Loco brake Westinghouse type Train brakes Westinghouse type
Performance figures Tractive effort 26,600 lbf (118.32 kN)
Career Operators East African Railways (EAR) Class 31 class Number in class 46 Numbers 3101–3046 Delivered 1955 First run 1955
[1][2]

The EAR 31 class was a class of oil-burning 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) gauge 2-8-4 steam locomotives. The 46 members of the class were built in 1955 by Vulcan Foundry, in Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire (now part of Merseyside), England, for the East African Railways (EAR). They were a lighter, branch-line version of the EAR 30 class, and worked from various sheds throughout the EAR system.^[3][4]