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At
the French National Railway Museum, Mulhouse
'Le Musée Français du Chemin de Fer'
May 30 2003
Page One
An all too brief visit was made to the French National Railway Museum in Mulhouse. In the event we ended up with less than a hour to look around which was nowhere near enough time. Having been before, in 2000, I was much better off than others who had never been. At least I knew what I wanted to concentrate on.
It had been suggested due to development work that, after the promises, the reserve collection would be unavailable to us. Those who had not gone to Rigi and had gone to the museum during the day had been able to see it but as it was now getting dark it was deemed unsafe. So I still don't know what makes up their reserve collection !
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The view over some of the exhibits at Le Musée Français du Chemin de Fer, Mulhouse. The locomotive closest is Nord Pacific 3.1192, later SNCF 231E22. May 30 2003
The two stars of the Mulhouse museum are De Caso designed SNCF 4-6-4 compound 232U1 (left) and the Chapelon designed Nord compound 4-6-2 3.1192 (SNCF 231E22.) May 30 2003
Nord Pacific 3.1192, later SNCF 231E22. These locomotives were the top link power of the Nord and later the SNCF over the boat train route from Paris Gare de Nord to Calais until final withdrawal in 1967. These superb machines could sustain 2700 horsepower, note that is SUSTAINED not a peak output. Their in service weight was 101 tonnes. May 30 2003
3.1192 is kept in excellent condition by the museum staff, as befits such an important locomotive. On this side of the locomotive the turbo generator, cross compound air brake pump and one of the ACFI feedwater barrels are visible. Also to the right of the cab steps is the live steam injector used when the locomotive was not under steam. If the ACFI system had been used when there was no exhaust steam to heat the feedwater cold water would have entered the boiler. May 30 2003
These locomotives came out of developments on the Paris Orleans Railway carried out on PO Pacific 3566 (later 3701) by André Chapelon. Almost all Pacifics in France were later modified in light of the results Chapelon achieved. As can be seen above the locomotives had an ACFI feedwater heater and Walschaerts operated Lentz-Dabeg Oscillating Cam valve gear (as has 231G588.) May 30 2003
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A
closer view of the valve gear, air pump and also the mechanical lubricator
on 3.1192. Note the beautifully laid out copper lubrication pipework to
the right of the lubricator. May 30 2003 |
A view of the cylinder and final sections of the the valve gear drive to the oscillating cams. Note under the cylinder the cover on the cylinder cock exhausts. May 30 2003
It is possible to walk under 3.1192 in a lit pit. This view shows, amongst other things, the inside big ends and eccentrics and, interestingly, how they fit through the frame stretcher. May 30 2003
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Another
interesting feature of some Chapelon engines is the chute visible here.
This allowed char to be shovelled directly from the smokebox down the
chute in to a pit rather than having to throw it off the front or over
the side of the locomotive. May 30 2003 |
A view of the coupling rod bearing arrangement and also the speedometer drive on 3.1192. May 30 2003
One excellent exhibit in the museum is this complete Hulson rocking grate and HT1 Stoker. May 30 2003
231U1 was a one off locomotive designed by Marc de Caso of the Nord Railway. It is a four cylinder compound fitted with piston valves and many modern features to improve reliability and make operation easier. Whilst not quite as good as Chapelon engines of the same era, notably 242A1, it was none the less a very fine locomotive. On test in 1950 232U1 was recorded producing 3265 drawbar horsepower over an 8km section. May 30 2003
231U1 was originally to be built as a Ljungström turbine but ultimately was turned out a conventional locomotive. Whilst many French compounds had two regulators (both used when working the loco as a simple, and just one used in compound operation) and two sets of reversing gear, 232U1 had one regulator and one reverser. At cut-offs longer than 55% the locomotive worked as a simple, at shorter cut-offs the locomotive automatically operated in compound mode. After restoration for display at Mulhouse, under the supervision of Marc de Caso, it was setup so that the driving wheels can be rotated to enable visitors to see the valve gear in action. Also on display by the side of the locomotive is a piston of the type used in 232U1. May 30 2003
A close up view of the crosshead arrangement and certain items of the valve gear. Also note the large brass pressure relief valve on the cylinder end cover. May 30 2003
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The
SNCF had a steam locomotive testing station at Vitry-sur-Seine. Whilst
that facility may be long gone it is remembered by this excellent model.
The locomotive in the photograph and also inside the model is a 141P,
a type that very sadly did not make it in to preservation. The 141Ps,
whilst being a development of the PLM 141C class, were another triumph
for André
Chapelon. May 30 2003 |
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Several
excellent models are on show. This one is of a 141TC. May 30 2003 |
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