Palestine Railways P class facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Palestine Railways P class
P class 4-6-0 no. 60 on the turntable at Haifa in 1950
Type and origin Power type steam Builder North British Locomotive Company Serial number 24219 – 24224 Build date 1935 Total produced 6
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-6-0 Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge Bogies 6 ft 8 in (2,032 mm) wheelbase Leading dia. 2 ft 9 in (838 mm) Driver dia. 5 ft 6+3⁄4 in (1,695 mm) Wheelbase 25 ft 11 in (7.90 m) Length loco & tender 65 ft 6 in (19.96 m) over buffers Height 14 ft 2 in (4.32 m) Axle load 26 long tons (29.1 short tons; 26.4 t) Adhesive weight 17 long tons (19.0 short tons; 17.3 t); 17 long tons (19.0 short tons; 17.3 t); 16.95 long tons (19.0 short tons; 17.2 t) Loco weight 68.65 long tons (76.9 short tons; 69.8 t) Total weight 127.5 long tons (142.8 short tons; 129.5 t) laden Fuel type originally Welsh coal; converted to oil by 1943 Fuel capacity 1,193 imperial gallons (1,433 US gal; 5,420 L) (after conversion to oil fuel) Water cap. 6,500 imperial gallons (7,800 US gal; 30,000 L) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 29 square feet (2.7 m2) Boiler pressure 190 lbf/in2 (1.31 MPa) Heating surface 1,949 sq ft (181.1 m2) Cylinders 2, outside Cylinder size 20+1⁄2 in × 28 in (521 mm × 711 mm)
Performance figures Tractive effort 28,470 lbf (126.6 kN)
Career Operators Palestine Military Railway 1919–20; Palestine Railways 1920–48; Israel Railways 1948–60 Class P Number in class 6 Numbers 60 – 65 Locale Mandate Palestine; northern Sinai; latterly Israel Delivered 1935 First run 1935 Last run 1960 Retired 1960 Scrapped 1960 Disposition All scrapped but tender of no. 62 preserved

The Palestine Railways P class was a type of steam locomotive used for both passengers and goods. These powerful trains ran on the standard gauge railway lines in Mandatory Palestine and later in Israel. The Palestine Railways introduced these locomotives in 1935. The last P class trains were taken out of service by Israel Railways in 1960.

Why New Locomotives Were Needed

Palestine Railways started in 1920. It ran all the railways in the area known as the Mandate for Palestine. The main trains they used were 50 H class locomotives. These were built in 1918 in Pennsylvania, USA.

The H class trains handled most of the work on the main line. This line stretched from Haifa in Palestine to El Kantara East in Egypt. It passed through cities like Lydda, Gaza, and El Arish. A daily train from Haifa to El Kantara included special Wagons-Lits cars. In the early 1930s, Palestine Railways wanted faster and more powerful trains. They hoped to improve the journey times and overall performance.

Key Features of the P Class

In 1935, Palestine Railways bought six new locomotives. They were built by the North British Locomotive Company in Glasgow, Scotland. These new trains were named the P class.

• More Power: The P class locomotives were very strong. They had a pulling force of 28,470 lbf (126.6 kN). This was about 16% more power than the older H class trains.
• Faster Wheels: The P class had large driving wheels, measuring 5 ft 6+3⁄4 in (1,695 mm). These wheels were bigger than those on the H class. Larger wheels helped the P class trains go faster, making them better for passenger services.

The design of the P class locomotives was typical for British trains. However, their tenders were different. Most British tender locomotives had six-wheel tenders. But the P class used American-style bogie tenders. These tenders could carry more water, which was useful for long journeys. Also, bogie vehicles ride more smoothly. This was important because the railway tracks in Palestine were not always in perfect condition.

All P class locomotives were painted black. From 1944, their numbers were painted very large on the side of their tenders. This made them easy to identify.

Life During Difficult Times

Originally, Palestine Railways used coal from Wales to power its locomotives. But in June 1940, Italy joined World War II. This made it very dangerous for ships to cross the Mediterranean Sea. Because of this, Palestine Railways started changing its locomotives to burn oil instead of coal. This change was completed by 1943.

The tender of P class number 62, now kept at the Israel Railway Museum

The Palestine Railways was very important to the British authorities. Because of its importance, the railway was sometimes attacked during periods of conflict. For example, during the 1947–1949 Palestine war, trains on the El Kantara – Haifa line were targeted. Even when damaged, the P class locomotives were repaired at the Quishon workshops in Haifa. They were strong and kept running.

After the British left Palestine in May 1948, all six P class locomotives became part of the new Israel Railways. After the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, the main railway services were limited to within the new State of Israel. By 1956, diesel trains began to take over the main routes. Steam trains, including the P class, were mostly used in the central part of the country around Lod. The P class locomotives continued to serve until 1959, when Israel Railways officially stopped using steam trains. All six P class locomotives were taken apart around 1960. However, the tender (the part that carries fuel and water) of locomotive number 62 is saved. You can see it at the Israel Railway Museum in Haifa.

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