Golwé locomotive for the Ivory Coast The Golwé was a type of

articulated An articulated vehicle is a vehicle which has a permanent or semi-permanent coupling in its construction. This coupling works as a large pivot joint, allowing it to bend and turn more sharply. There are many kinds, from heavy equipment to buse ...

steam locomotive A steam locomotive is a locomotive that provides the force to move itself and other vehicles by means of the expansion of steam. It is fuelled by burning combustible material (usually coal, Fuel oil, oil or, rarely, Wood fuel, wood) to heat ...

manufactured in

Belgium Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...

for use in French West African colonies.

Design

The design was

patented A patent is a type of intellectual property that gives its owner the legal right to exclude others from making, using, or selling an invention for a limited period of time in exchange for publishing an enabling disclosure of the invention."A ...

in 1924, as the work of G. Goldschmidt and A. Weber, managing director and chief engineer of the Société Haine St. Pierre in Belgium. A single rigid frame ran the length of the locomotive and carried the boiler, fuel and water. The front engine unit swivelled under the

boiler A boiler is a closed vessel in which fluid (generally water) is heated. The fluid does not necessarily boil. The heated or vaporized fluid exits the boiler for use in various processes or heating applications, including water heating, centra ...

and

smokestack A chimney is an architectural ventilation structure made of masonry, clay or metal that isolates hot toxic exhaust gases or smoke produced by a boiler, stove, furnace, incinerator, or fireplace from human living areas. Chimneys are typically ...

, in a similar manner to a

Meyer Meyer may refer to: People *Meyer (surname), listing people so named * Meyer (name), a list of people and fictional characters with the name Companies * Meyer Burger, a Swiss mechanical engineering company * Meyer Corporation * Meyer Sound Labo ...

and looking somewhat like a

Mallet A mallet is a tool used for imparting force on another object, often made of rubber or sometimes wood, that is smaller than a maul or beetle, and usually has a relatively large head. General overview The term is descriptive of the ...

; in contrast a

Garratt A Garratt locomotive is a type of articulated steam locomotive invented by the engineer Herbert William Garratt that is articulated into three parts. Its boiler, firebox, and cab are mounted on a centre frame or "bridge". The two other ...

had its front

bogie A bogie ( ) (or truck in North American English) comprises two or more Wheelset (rail transport), wheelsets (two Railroad wheel, wheels on an axle), in a frame, attached under a vehicle by a pivot. Bogies take various forms in various modes ...

in front of the

. The rear engine unit was placed underneath the tender, in a manner similar to a Garratt; however, while a Garratt carried both coal and water directly on the rear bogie, the Golwé had its fuel bunker mounted on the central frame. The water tank was mounted directly on the rear steam bogie and embraced the fuel bunker and rear end of the main frame. The rear bogie cylinders were placed under the cab, at the front of the rear unit. A float-controlled automatic device increased the

cut-off A cut-off, cut, kutte or battle vest (when sleeveless) and a battle jacket or patch jacket (regardless of sleeves), is a jacket adorned with patches related to the wearer's subculture or general interests. Patch jackets are generally made using ...

of the rear cylinders to prevent slipping when the water tank was running low. The firebox hung low between the two engine units and so could be of generous size.

Use

Four locomotives were supplied to the metre-gauge

Ivory Coast Ivory Coast, also known as Côte d'Ivoire and officially the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, is a country on the southern coast of West Africa. Its capital city of Yamoussoukro is located in the centre of the country, while its largest List of ci ...

railways in 1930, and three to the Congo-Ocean Railway in the

French Congo The French Congo (), also known as Middle Congo (), was a French colony which at one time comprised the present-day area of the Republic of the Congo and parts of Gabon, and the Central African Republic. In 1910, it was made part of the larger ...

. The Congo-Ocean railway received two more of the same type in 1935 and five of a modified type. Both railways later turned to Beyer-Garratt locomotives for their articulated locomotive needs.

References

* Durrant, A.E., A.A. Jorgensen, & C.P. Lewis 1981 ''Steam in Africa'' Hamlyn London * {{DEFAULTSORT:Golwe locomotive Articulated locomotives French West Africa