:China Railways KF

In July 1933, the Guangdong–Hankou Railway was in need of new motive power for their being finished Guangzhou to Shaoguan line (capital of Guangdong Province to the northern border of the province). However, this particular line had been burdened with gradients of around two percent as well as curves with less than {{convert|250|m|mi|abbr=on}} radii, and low capacity bridges. This necessitated a locomotive design that had more tractive effort while retaining a low axle load. The Ministry of Railways approached the Vulcan Foundry in Britain, who devised a series of locomotives of a 4-8-4 wheel arrangement. 24 were ordered in 1935 and delivered to China in 1935-36. Under the Nationalist Government, the engines were numbered 600-623.{{Cite book |last=Hollingsworth, Brian |title=The Great Book of Trains |last2=Cook, Arthur |year=1987 |isbn=0-86283-778-2}}

Although designed by an Englishman, Col. Kenneth Cantlie, and built by an English firm, the class followed American design paradigms, featuring an automatic stoker, and a 4-8-4 configuration never used in the United Kingdom. One exception was the low axle load of 16½ tons.

The engines were a significant improvement over previous designs, incorporating a more efficient E-type superheater and duplex steam valve to allow better steaming without enlarging the boiler. The 4-8-4 wheel arrangement allowed for better weight distribution as well as improved handling on sharp curves{{synthesis inline|date=May 2012}}

.When the Changsha-Canton Railway was completed in October 1936, locomotives 600-623 {{citation needed span|text=were transferred to operate over northern section between Hankou and Changsha on this new main line.|date=July 2014}} During World War II the locomotives were transferred to Guangxi Province through Hunan–Guangxi Railway, away from Japanese-occupied territory.

Out of 24 engines built, 17 survived the Second Sino-Japanese war. After the establishment of the People's Republic in 1949, the locomotives were repaired, upgraded,{{cite book|url=http://www.shtong.gov.cn/node2/node2245/node68716/node68722/node68766/node68846/userobject1ai66620.html|title=上海铁路志|trans-title=History of Shanghai Railways|chapter=机车检修|trans-chapter=Inspection and Repair of locomotive|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714170147/http://www.shtong.gov.cn/node2/node2245/node68716/node68722/node68766/node68846/userobject1ai66620.html|archivedate=14 July 2014|df=dmy-all}} and reassigned the numbers 1-17 for use on the Shanghai–Nanjing Railway. They retained their old classification KF and continued in service up to early 1970s.

Builder details:

• KF 1-16 2D2-h2 520x725 1752 Vulcan Foundry 4668 - 4683 / 1935 Renumbered to 'KF' 601 - 616
• KF 17-24 2D2-h2 520x725 1752 Vulcan Foundry 4696 - 4703 / 1936 Renumbered to 'KF' 617 - 624

Two examples are known to have been preserved. KF7 was presented by the Chinese Government to the National Railway Museum, England in 1981.A Present from China The Railway Magazine issue 966 October 1981 page 496{{citation| url = http://www.nrm.org.uk/OurCollection/LocomotivesAndRollingStock/CollectionItem.aspx?objid=1987-7001| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110629113832/http://www.nrm.org.uk/OurCollection/LocomotivesAndRollingStock/CollectionItem.aspx?objid=1987-7001| url-status = dead| archive-date = 29 June 2011| title = Chinese Government Railways steam locomotive 4-8-4 KF7 class, No 607, 1935| publisher = National Railway Museum}}{{failed verification|date=November 2023}} Another KF class locomotive is preserved at the China Railway Museum, China.{{citation| url = http://www.railwaysofchina.com/preserved.htm| work = www.railwaysofchina.com| title = Preserved locomotives.| access-date = 25 May 2012| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110715150940/http://www.railwaysofchina.com/preserved.htm| archive-date = 15 July 2011| url-status = dead}}

Chinese Loco (5440831371).jpg|KF7-607 at the National Railway Museum in York

KF1-006 (SIK 04-E0812-084-Print).jpg|KF1-006 at the China Railway Museum in Beijing

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category|China Railways KF}}

• {{citation| url = http://www.gmw.cn/content/2005-07/26/content_271782.htm| script-title = zh:中国铁路技术标准的开拓者之一――应尚才| work = www.gmw.cn| date = 26 July 2007| language = Chinese| access-date = 25 May 2012| archive-date = 14 November 2012| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121114043838/http://www.gmw.cn/content/2005-07/26/content_271782.htm| url-status = dead}}
• {{citation| url = http://www.shtong.gov.cn/node2/node2245/node68716/node68722/node68766/node68846/userobject1ai66619.html| script-title = zh:第一节 机车运用| work = www.shtong.gov.cn| language = Chinese| url-status = dead| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20140719141517/http://www.shtong.gov.cn/node2/node2245/node68716/node68722/node68766/node68846/userobject1ai66619.html| archivedate = 19 July 2014| df = dmy-all}}

{{Locomotives of China}}

Category:Vulcan Foundry locomotives

Category:Steam locomotives of China

Category:4-8-4 locomotives

Category:2′D2′ h2 locomotives

Category:Standard-gauge locomotives of China

Category:Railway locomotives introduced in 1935

Category:Passenger locomotives