EAR 59 class

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East African Railways 59 class
5902 prior to being named Ruwenzori Mountains
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Beyer, Peacock and Company Order number 11164, 11168 Serial number 7632–7658, 7700–7706 Build date 1955 Total produced 34
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-8-2+2-8-4 Garratt  • UIC (2′D1′)(1′D2′) h4 Gauge 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) Driver dia. 54 in (1,372 mm) Length 102 ft 11 in (31.37 m) Adhesive weight 157 long tons (160 t) Loco weight 248 long tons (252 t) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 72 sq ft (6.69 m2) Boiler 225 psi (1.55 MPa) Heating surface 3,560 sq ft (331 m2) Superheater: ​  • Heating area 745 sq ft (69.2 m2) Cylinder size 20.5 in × 28 in (521 mm × 711 mm)
Performance figures Maximum speed 43 mph (69 km/h) Tractive effort 83,350 lbf (370.76 kN)
Career Operators East African Railways Class 59 Numbers 5901–5934 Withdrawn 1973–1980 Preserved 5918, 5930

The EAR 59 class is a class of oil-fired 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) gauge 4-8-2+2-8-4 Garratt-type articulated steam locomotives. The 34 members of the class were built by Beyer, Peacock and Company in Manchester, England, for the East African Railways (EAR). They entered service in 1955–56, and were the largest, heaviest and most powerful steam locomotives to operate on any metre gauge railway in the world.^[1]