The Ultimate Steam Page

FCAF's Garratt Locomotive No. 5
"Ing H. R. Zubieta"

created October 27, 2007

photos and info courtesy Shaun McMahon except as noted

No. 5, the FCAF's second Garratt, was constructed in 2005 under the supervision of Phil Girdlestone in South Africa using some parts originally fabricated when no. 2 (originally named "Nora") was built in Argentina prior to the line's opening.  Many parts were constructed new from scratch for no. 5.  While not a "clean sheet" design, a significant number of design deficiencies discovered during the several years that no. 2 had been in operation were corrected during the construction of number 5.  Two of the most significant improvements included in no. 5 not present in the FCAF's other two steamers are a Belpaire firebox for the boiler and superheating.  Modern type piston valves with multiple rings were fitted and improvements were made to the valve motion as well.  As a result, no. 5 is the most powerful locomotive on the FCAF.

No. 5 is proportioned and styled differently from no. 2, with the boiler set somewhat higher (producing a shorter stack to stay within clearance limits) and different front and rear tanks. 

Martyn Bane's Steam and Travel pages include a detailed report on no. 5:

http://www.martynbane.co.uk/modernsteam/pg/fcaf5/fcaf5.html