China Railways KF


The Class KF was a 4-8-4 mainline passenger steam locomotive type built in the United Kingdom by the Vulcan Foundry for the railways of China. Following World War II, and the establishment of the People's Republic of China, the Chinese Government assumed control of the railway and re-designated the engines in 1954 as the "ㄎㄈ" class -F from the first two syllables of "Confederation", and in 1959 as the "KF" class.

History

In July 1933, the Guangdong–Hankou Railway was in need of new motive power for their being finished Guangzhou to Shaoguan line. However, this particular line had been burdened with gradients of around two percent as well as curves with less than radi, and low capacity bridges. This necessitated a locomotive design that had more tractive effort while retaining a low axle load. The railway approached the Vulcan Foundry in Britain, who devised a series of 24 locomotives of a 4-8-4 wheel arrangement.
The engines were a significant improvement over previous designs, incorporating a more efficient E-type superheater and duplex steam valve to allow better steaming without enlarging the boiler. The 4-8-4 wheel arrangement allowed for better weight distribution as well as improved handling on sharp curves.
When the Changsha - Canton Railway was completed in October 1936, the class KF 1 - 24 locomotives During World War II the locomotive was transferred to Guangxi Province through Hunan–Guangxi Railway, free from Japanese occupied zone. After the establishment of the People's Republic of China, the locomotives were repaired and upgraded to use in Shanghai–Nanjing Railway.
Most of the class KF survived the 1937 - 1945 Sino-Japanese war. They retained their old classification and continued in service up to early 1970s.
Builder details:
Two examples are known to have been preserved. KF7 was presented by the Chinese Government to the National Railway Museum, England in 1981. Another KF class locomotive is preserved at the Beijing Railway Museum, China.