Le Belge (locomotive)

Le Belge
Type and origin
Power type Steam
Builder John Cockerill & Cie.
Build date 1835
Specifications
Configuration:
 ​
 • UIC 1A1
Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Driver dia. 1.52 m (60 in)[1]
Adhesive weight 4,000 kg (8,800 lb)[2]
Loco weight 11,560 kg (25,490 lb) (in running order)[2]
Boiler pressure 4 kg[2]
Heating surface 33.6 m2 (362 sq ft)[2]
 • Firebox 0.86 m2 (9.3 sq ft)[2]
Cylinders 2[2]
Cylinder size 280 mm (11 in) (diamater) x 458 mm (18.0 in) (stroke)[2]
Performance figures
Maximum speed 60 km/h (37 mph)[1]
Power output 40 hp (30 kW)[1] (or 50hp[2])

Le Belge was a 2-2-2 Patentee type steam locomotive with tender, built in 1835 by the company founded by John Cockerill in Seraing, Belgium. It was the first steam railway locomotive built in Belgium, and was built under license to a design by Robert Stephenson & Co.

Design and operation

The locomotive was built for the first main line on the European mainland, the Brussels-Mechelen line.[2]

Replicas

A replica locomotive was built at the workshops of Boissellerie Cognaut for the 150th anniversary in 1980 of the formation of Belgium. Another replica was built in 1885 and is now displayed at Train World, the museum of the National Railways of Belgium, in Schaerbeek, Brussels.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "S.A. Cockerill de Seraing". users.skynet.be (in French).
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "La Construction des LOCOMOTIVES à VAPEUR en Belgique". www.tassignon.be (in French).

Further information

  • U. Lamaille; F. Legein. "La Locomotive, Description raisonnée de ses organes" (in French).
  • "1835. " Le Belge " des ateliers Cockerill". users.skynet.be. from an unfinished album of lithographs by Jacobs and Hergé.
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