XE 2-8-2
Additional XE pictures can be viewed by clicking on the following file names:
XE2.JPG: Shows an XE being broken up at Kharagpur.
XE4.JPG: Shows an XE owned by Chunar Cements in Uttar Pradesh, India.
The XE Class 2-8-2 was a powerful goods engine which was used to haul heavy mineral trains, especially on the Eastern Railway. It was one of the IRSC Standard X series broad gauge engines which included 3 Pacifics and the highly similar XD 2-8-2. The XE in the first picture appears to have a smokebox borrowed from a WG.
The IRSC standards were drawn up by the Indian Railways Standards Committee in the late 1920s. Only the XD and XE designs were successful engines; the Pacifics were not, though later modifications made them quite useful.
TECHNICAL NOTES
The XE engines were wonderful load haulers, but their enormous fireboxes taxed the energies of the fireman. Later, they were fitted with mechanical stokers to solve this problem. They could haul 2000 tonne mineral trains without difficulty.
The smaller XD 2-8-2 was more numerous and widespread and were very long-lived engines.
DIMENSIONS
Cylinders(2): 23.5" x 30", Boiler Pressure: 210 psig, Driving Wheel Dia.: 5'-1 1/2", Pony Truck Wheel Dia.: 3', Radial Wheel Dia.: 3'-7", Tractive Effort: 48,086 lb, Axle Load: 22.5 tonnes, Adhesion Factor: 4.16, Engine Weight w/o tender: 120.5 tonnes, Engine Weight w/ tender: 198.5 tonnes, Water Capacity: 6000 gal (imp), Coal Capacity: 14 tonnes
Boiler Heating Surface (in sq.ft.): tubes (small) - 1776, tubes (large) - 952, tubes (arch) - 26, Firebox - 260, Total: 3014, Superheating surface: 763 sq.ft, Grate Area: 60 sq.ft.
