The Shiki or Sigeu (Japanese シキ, Korean 시그) class railcars were a class of 3rd class steam railcars of the Chosen Government Railway (Sentetsu). There were two classes of such railcars, one built in Japan and one built in the United Kingdom.

This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (August 2018)

Sentetsu Shiki class
Builder's photo of Shiki1 class steam railcar no. 1.
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Shiki1: Kisha Seizō Shiki2: Sentinel-Cammell Build date Shiki1: 1923 Shiki2: 1929 Total produced Shiki1: 4 Shiki2: 2
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte Shiki1: 2-2-0T+2 Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) Driver dia. Shiki1: 1,370 mm (54 in) Length Shiki1: 6,936 mm (273.1 in) (power unit only) Width Shiki1: 2,796 mm (110.1 in) Height Shiki1: 4,281 mm (168.5 in) Adhesive weight Shiki1: 16.90 t (16.63 long tons; 18.63 short tons) Loco weight Shiki1: 28.50 t (28.05 long tons; 31.42 short tons) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity Shiki1: 0.83 t (0.82 long tons; 0.91 short tons) Water cap. Shiki1: 3.61 m3 (127 cu ft) Firebox:  • Firegrate area Shiki1: 0.01 m2 (0.11 sq ft) Boiler: ​  • Small tubes Shiki1: 258 x 38 mm (1.5 in) Boiler pressure Shiki1: 13.0 kgf/cm2 (185 psi) Shiki2: 21.0 kgf/cm2 (299 psi) Heating surface Shiki1: 44.4 m2 (478 sq ft)  • Tubes 39.2 m2 (422 sq ft)  • Firebox Shiki1: 5.2 m2 (56 sq ft) Cylinder size Shiki1: 250 mm × 406 mm (9.8 in × 16.0 in) Valve gear Shiki1: Walschaerts Loco brake Shiki1: Air brake
Performance figures Maximum speed Shiki1: 75 km/h (47 mph) Tractive effort Shiki1: 20.1 kN (4,500 lbf)
Career Operators Chosen Government Railway Class シキ1 (시그1); シキ2 (시그2) Number in class Shiki1: 4 Shiki2: 2 Numbers Shiki1: シキ1-1–シキ1-4 Shiki2: シキ2-1–シキ2-2 First run Shiki1: 5 July 1923 Shiki2: 1929 Withdrawn Shiki1: 1924 (rebuilt)

Shiki1 class (シキ1)

In 1923, Kisha Seizō of Japan built four steam railcars for Sentetsu, which were essentially a small tank steam locomotive with a 2-2-0 wheel arrangement built onto one end of a passenger carriage. Intended for use for commuter trains on the Gyeongin Line, the railcar pulled two passenger cars in active service. However, performance was far from satisfactory, with many complaints about excessive vibration being received. As a result, in 1924, after barely a year in service, one was scrapped, and the remaining three were converted to 2-2-0 tank locomotives by removing the integrated passenger compartment. A second one was scrapped in 1927, leaving only two locomotives.[1] These two remained in service until at least 1940,[1] but their subsequent fate is unknown.

Shiki2 class (シキ2)

Despite the poor experience with the first steam railcars, Sentetsu imported two geared steam railcars from Sentinel-Cammell in England in 1929. These had a vertical boiler generating superheated steam of 21.0 kgf/cm² (299 psi) pressure, which fed a single, horizontally mounted, 6-cylinder engine producing 30 hp (22 kW), and had a lightweight body integrated with the underframe. These steam railcars later proved very helpful in designing Sentetsu's first petrol-powered railcars. Both units remained in service until at least 1940, but their subsequent fate is unknown.[1]

References