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Indian Railways XA Class

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description Indian Railways XA Class Overview

The Indian Railways XA Class was a broad-gauge steam locomotive with a 4-6-2 Pacific wheel arrangement, used for passenger service on the subcontinent. It was one of several standard designs developed in the 1930s for the railway companies that preceded the nationalized Indian Railways. The XA featured outside cylinders and Walschaerts valve gear, and was well suited to moderate-distance express trains. Many examples remained in service into the post-independence era.

help Indian Railways XA Class FAQ

What wheel arrangement does the Indian Railways XA Class use?

The Indian Railways XA Class uses a 4-6-2 Pacific wheel arrangement. That means it has four leading wheels, six driving wheels, and two trailing wheels.

What was the XA Class designed to do?

The XA Class was a broad-gauge steam locomotive intended mainly for passenger service in India. It belonged to the group of standard designs developed during the 1930s for railway companies that existed before nationalization.

Was the XA Class built for Indian Railways after nationalization?

The design originated with the railway companies that preceded nationalized Indian Railways. It was therefore part of the transition from regional railway administrations to the later national system.

Why is the Pacific layout useful for passenger locomotives?

The 4-6-2 layout gives a locomotive a large set of driving wheels for speed while retaining leading and trailing wheels for stability and weight distribution. The XA Class applied that arrangement to broad-gauge passenger work on the subcontinent.

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