SNCF 141R class

Infobox Locomotive
name = SNCF 141.R
powertype = Steam


caption = Locomotive 141R568 at Lons-le-Saunier (Jura) station, on 1 August 1996. The locomotive operates on the CITEV tourist line.
totalproduction = 1340
whytetype = 2-8-2
uicclass = 1'D1'h
boilerpressure = convert|1.55|MPa|psi|3|abbr=on|lk=on
gauge = RailGauge|ussg
fueltype = coal or fuel oil
cylindercount = Two, outside
cylindersize = 597×711 mm (23.5×28 in)
driversize = convert|1.65|m|in|abbr=on
length = 14.64 m (loco only)
24.13m (total)
topspeed = convert|100|km/h|mph|abbr=on
poweroutput = 2.154 MW at 80 km/h (2,888 hp at 50 mph)
weight = 115.5 tonnes (coal loco) 116.25 tonnes (oil loco)
tenderweight=75 tonnes (30.R tender)
firearea = convert|5.2|m2|abbr=on

The SNCF 141.R was a class of 2-8-2 steam locomotives of the "la Société nationale des chemins de fer français" (French State Railways). They were used on most of the French rail network from 1945–1974.

History

At the end of World War II, there was a shortage of locomotives, and to quickly obtain the large number needed was to order them from the main American and Canadian locomotive builders.

The design was based on the Green Bay & Western Railroad's successfully customized Mikados, based somewhat off of the USRA Light Mikado , suitably modified to meet the SNCF loading gauge. Principle modifications being European couplers and buffers, left-hand drive, Nord-type smoke box door lock, and a Kylchap exhaust on the second batch.

The first batch of 700 engines was placed in February 1945 with production split between the "big three" American locomotive builders: Baldwin Locomotive Works, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, American Locomotive Company, Schenectady, New York, and Lima Locomotive Works, Lima, Ohio. Once financing was made available, the second batch of 640 engines was ordered from the "big three", plus the Canadian manufacturers Montreal Locomotive Works, Montreal, Quebec and Canadian Locomotive Company, Kingston, Ontario. These locomotives were mainly envisaged to burn preheated heavy fuel oil, unlike the first batch which had all be designed as coal fired.

The massive introduction of oil fired locomotives is also explained by the fact that in the immediate post-war period, the quality coal was in high demand and that the SNCF was consuming 9 million tons per annum. Oil thus allowed savings in coal, even if in many depots it caused a revolution in working conditions. The extra range permitted by oil—convert|700|km|mi|abbr=on instead of convert|400|km|mi|abbr=on—explains also the more intensive use of the locomotives. The enginemen nicknamed the locomotives "mazoutières" or "charbonnières" ("coal-scuttles") according to fuel employed; oil-burners were also called "les goudronneuses" ("tar spraying machines") by their crews.

After the second world war, the American manufacturers' output had been boosted by the war effort. Thus from July 1945 to May 1946 the 700 141.R of the first batch were built in only eleven months. One can however observe important variations on the number of monthly production. If the large scale production really started in September, it reached its height during October, November, December and January, to slow down in February and March, and to continue until finished in May, or, an average of almost three engines per day! By way of comparison (quite relative, French industry being very weakened after the war) it will have taken four years, from June 1948 to July 1952, for the manufacturer Schneider to deliver the thirty-five 241.P to the SNCF.

The first engine, the 141.R.1 built by Lima, left the workshops on July 30 1945. The 141.R.466 was the first to be unloaded in France on November 17 1945, at the port of Marseilles. The last of the series, the 141.R.1340, left the workshops of Canadian Locomotive Company in July 1947 and on September 5 was unloaded at the port of Cherbourg. Sixteen engines (the 141.R.1220–1235) were lost at sea when the ship transporting them, the Norwegian ship "Belpamela" sank in a violent storm off Newfoundland on April 11, 1947. A seventeeth locomotive (141.R.1241) was lost in Marseilles harbour while unloading, So of the 1340 engines initially ordered, only 1323 entered in service on the French network.

For the SNCF, this type of machine constituted a small revolution - with simple expansion and very advanced construction techniques, the 141.R.1101–1340 were the only SNCF steam locomotives with being entirely equipped with Boxpok wheels, and roller bearings on all the driving and coupled axles, as well as and almost indeformable one-piece cast steel frame. As for the bar frames, and the axle box bearings of 141.R.1–1100, they appeared as quite irreproachable, which made them powerful machines with economic maintenance. For the 141.R.1101–1340, the maximum mileage traversed between two main shoppings was up to convert|230000|km|mi. Easy to drive, they offered relatively new comfort for both drivers and firemen. The cabs were fully enclosed, equipped with a comfort and an ergonomics hitherto unknown with the SNCF; driving and firing controls were within reach while seated, automatic coal feeding thanks to the mechanical stoker, and oil-firing was even easier. They were "banalisées" ("standardized"), that is, not assigned to a particular crew.

On the October 19, 1975 the last 141.R in use with the SNCF, 141.R.1187 of Vénissieux depot, to charge of a special train return working between Lyon and Veynes. Four locomotives of Narbonne depot were leased to the Hellenic State Railways from November 1973 to April 1974.

Preserved locomotives

Twelve 141.R locomotives have been preserved. Among them, are in operating condition are:
*141.R.420, (coal) based in Clermont-Ferrand, managed by the "Sté Civile de Conservation de la 141 R 420".
*141.R.840, (oil) based in Aubrais-Orléans, managed by the "AAATV" : Amicale des Anciens et Amis de la Traction à Vapeur, section Centre/Val de Loire."
*141.R.1126, (oil) owned by the SNCF, based in Toulouse, managed by "L'Amicale des Cheminots pour la Préservation de la 141 R 1126"
*141.R.1199, (oil) owned by the SNCF, based in Nantes, managed by "Loco Vapeur 1199"

Two engines are running in Switzerland:
*141.R.568 (coal) ex CITEV
*141.R.1244 (oil). Another three are stored there as spare parts after the bankruptcy of the company in charge of their restoration.
*141.R.73 (coal)
*141.R.1207 (coal)
*141.R.1332 (oil)

The three remaining locomotives are all the property of the SNCF, and are preserved as static exhibits
*141.R.1108 (oil) at Breil-sur-Roya
*141.R.1187 (oil) at the Cité du train de Mulhouse
*141.R.1298 (oil) at Miramas

Image Gallery

References

*Translated from the French language Wikipedia, December 2007

External links

* [http://www.mikado1244.ch/html/dampflok_revision_.html Des photos de la 141 R 1244 en grande révision] Rebuilding the 141.R.1244 (in German)
* [http://www.141r1199.fr/ 141.R.1199 website] with a [http://r2nantes.free.fr/videos/st-etienne-de-montluc_09-07.wmv Video of the 141.R.1199 at work]
* [http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2d0ak_141r1199nevers-events Video of 141.R.1199 departing from Nevers]