At the French National Railway Museum, Mulhouse
'Le Musée Français du Chemin de Fer'
May 30 2003

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From this type to the type below with a little bit of help from Monsieur Chapelon.... Some of the Paris Orleans 4500 class Pacifics, which themselves were good locomotives for their day, were rebuilt to become the very successful 4700 class 4-8-0, later 240.700 and 240A700 type, for the PO and later a further 25 were rebuilt, to an even better design, as 240Ps to operate in former PLM territory. May 31 2003
From this type on the left to the type below with a little bit of help from Monsieur Chapelon.... Some of the Paris Orleans 4500 class Pacifics, which themselves were good locomotives for their day, were rebuilt to become the very successful 4700 class 4-8-0, later 240.700 and 240A700 type, for the PO and later a further 25 were rebuilt, to an even better design, as 240Ps to operate in former PLM territory. May 30 2003

If the SNCF had preserved one of the 240's that loco would, for me, be THE star. However neither a first series or the later 240P types were preserved so we have today to be content with this superb model of 240.701. On test the first batch could sustain 3030 drawbar horsepower, whilst 240P15, of the second batch, was recorded producing 3600 drawbar horsepower, with an average on the same occasion of 3190 drawbar horsepower over the 31.2km section of line. These locomotives had the best power to weight ratio of any locomotive built prior to the building of L.D.Porta's 'La Argentina' in 1948 which matched them. For the record the figures are 31.1 horsepower per ton, in metric that is 23.2 kW per ton. May 30 2003

If the SNCF had preserved one of the 240's that loco would, for me, be THE star. However neither a first series or the later 240P types were preserved so we have today to be content with this superb model of 240.701. On test the first batch could sustain 3030 drawbar horsepower, whilst 240P15, of the second batch, was recorded producing 3600 drawbar horsepower, with an average on the same occasion of 3190 drawbar horsepower over the 31.2km section of line. These locomotives had the best power to weight ratio of any locomotive built prior to the building of L.D.Porta's 'La Argentina' in 1948 which matched them. For the record the figures are 31.1 horsepower per ton, in metric that is 23.2 kW per ton. May 30 2003

A Kylchap exhaust system of the type fitted to the 141Rs under the direction of André Chapelon. May 31 2003
A Kylchap exhaust system of the type fitted to the 141Rs under the direction of André Chapelon. May 30 2003

2-8-2 141R1187 was built by US firm Baldwin in 1947 to help rehabilitate the SNCF after World War II. After some work by Chapelon these already good locomotives were further improved. A maximum of 2928 drawbar horsepower was recorded from a modified loco, some 400 horsepower better than an 'as built' loco. They introduced to France the rugged American construction and good mechanical reliability that would have featured in Chapelon's post war locomotives if they had been built. May 31 2003

2-8-2 141R1187 was built by US firm Baldwin in 1947 to help rehabilitate the SNCF after World War II. After some work by Chapelon these already good locomotives were further improved. A maximum of 2928 drawbar horsepower was recorded from a modified loco, some 400 horsepower better than an 'as built' loco. They introduced to France the rugged American construction and good mechanical reliability that would have featured in Chapelon's post war locomotives if they had been built. May 30 2003

A very interesting exhibit is this steam powered rotary snowplough. May 31 2003

A very interesting exhibit is this steam powered rotary snowplough. May 30 2003

Paris Orleans Railway 2-8-2t 5452 in the grey livery characteristic of that railway. May 31 2003

Paris Orleans Railway 2-8-2t 5452 in the grey livery characteristic of that railway. May 30 2003

This rather old Pairs Orleans Railway 2-4-2 340, a product from the 1880s, is notable for the amount of brasswork. Keeping the boiler clean must have been a full time job ! May 31 2003

This rather old Pairs Orleans Railway 2-4-2 340, a product from the 1880s, is notable for the amount of brasswork. Keeping the boiler clean must have been a full time job ! May 30 2003

241P16 is one of the larger locomotives on display. The 241Ps were derived from the PLM 241C. They were something of a compromise and thus were not as good as they really should have been. However within the restriction of the post war era Chapelon did manage to make some useful thermodynamic enhancements during the design process. These locomotives were mechanically fired and could produce in the region of 3000 drawbar horsepower. May 31 2003

241P16 is one of the larger locomotives on display. The 241Ps were derived from the PLM 241C. They were something of a compromise and thus were not as good as they really should have been. However within the restriction of the post war era Chapelon did manage to make some useful thermodynamic enhancements during the design process. These locomotives were mechanically fired and could produce in the region of 3000 drawbar horsepower. May 30 2003

Compared to the likes of the 240Ps and 242A1 the 241Ps were not the tidiest looking loco with pipework everywhere and the reversing gear is very prominent. Also visible in this view are parts of the ACFI type feedwater heating system. May 31 2003

Compared to the likes of the 240Ps and 242A1 the 241Ps were not the tidiest looking loco with pipework everywhere and the reversing gear is very prominent. Also visible in this view are parts of the ACFI type feedwater heating system. May 30 2003

The ACFI feedwater pump is surrounded by the substantial reversing gear. The centre section of the ACFI pump is the actual pump whilst the cold water was pumped from the righthand side and the heated water from the lefthand side. May 31 2003
The ACFI feedwater pump is surrounded by the substantial reversing gear. The centre section of the ACFI pump is the actual pump whilst the cold water was pumped from the righthand side and the heated water from the lefthand side. May 30 2003

In later life many of the 241Ps were fitted with power reverse gear from 141Rs. This shows the Franklin type of power reverse cylinder. 241P16 was in service from 1950 to 1973. May 31 2003
In later life many of the 241Ps were fitted with power reverse gear from 141Rs. This shows the Franklin type of power reverse cylinder. 241P16 was in service from 1950 to 1973. May 30 2003

241P16 seen from the other side showing the air pump location. The frames of these locomotives were not really strong enough to absorb the power the locomotives could produce, but axle loading restrictions precluded making them any stronger. The inadequate frames flexed too much making the locomotives susceptible to hot axle boxes. Typical of most compounds derived from PLM types there was one reverser with a fixed ration between the cutoff in the high and low pressure cylinders. May 31 2003

241P16 seen from the other side showing the air pump location. The frames of these locomotives were not really strong enough to absorb the power the locomotives could produce, but axle loading restrictions precluded making them any stronger. The inadequate frames flexed too much making the locomotives susceptible to hot axle boxes. Typical of most compounds derived from PLM types there was one reverser with a fixed ration between the cutoff in the high and low pressure cylinders. May 30 2003

Etat Railway 4 axled bogie railcar ZZy24091 is one of the famous Bugatti vehicles. This is one of the 'Presidential' type. May 31 2003

Etat Railway 4 axled bogie railcar ZZy24091 is one of the famous Bugatti vehicles. This is one of the 'Presidential' type. May 30 2003

2-8-0 140-344 is displayed away from the rest of the steam locos but is none the less kept in immaculate condition. May 31 2003

2-8-0 140-344 is displayed away from the rest of the steam locos but is none the less kept in immaculate condition. May 30 2003

This sad looking locomotive is stored in the open pending restoration and display in the museum. It is former Nord Railway 140A259. The class was designed in 1912 and there is a direct line of descent to the SNCF 150Ps. May 30 2003

This sad looking locomotive is stored in the open pending restoration and display in the museum. It is former Nord Railway 140A259. The class was designed in 1912 and there is a direct line of descent to the SNCF 150Ps. May 30 2003

If my photographs and details of 'Le Musée Français du Chemin de Fer' has whet your appetite to find out more about French steam I would recommend the following three books. In fact I would say they are essential reading.
'La Locomotive à Vapeur' by André Chapelon
'Compound Locomotives' by J.T. van Riemsdijk
'Chapelon - Genius of French Steam' by Col. H.C.B. Rogers
'La Locomotive à Vapeur'
by André Chapelon
'Compound Locomotives'
by J.T. van Riemsdijk
'Chapelon - Genius of
French Steam'
by Col. H.C.B. Rogers
'La Locomotive à Vapeur' is available from Camden Miniature Steam Services . The other two books are both out of print but are available secondhand, although you may have trouble finding 'Chapelon - Genius of French Steam', and you will certainly have to pay for it ! Perhaps someone might like to republish it ? A good place to start looking for these books is UKBookworld.com

These are some other books on French steam I can recommend, however they are in French:
'Les 141P De valeureuses Mikado' by Bernard Collardey & André Rasserie
'Les Locomotives à Vapeur Unifiées 241P, 240P, 150P' by Bernard Collardey & André Rasserie
'Les Locomotives à Vapeur Unifiées (2) 232R, S, U, 151TQ, 050TQ et les prototypes' By Bernard Collardey & André Rasserie
'Les 141P De
valeureuses Mikado'
by Bernard Collardey & André Rasserie
'Les Locomotives à Vapeur Unifiées 241P, 240P, 150P'
by Bernard Collardey & André Rasserie
'Les Locomotives à Vapeur Unifiées (2) 232R, S, U, 151TQ, 050TQ
et les prototypes'
by Bernard Collardey & André Rasserie
The three above books are all published by La vie du Rail. In the UK Camden Miniature Steam Services can supply them.

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On to day four of the tour on board 'The Lake Neuchâtel Express'.

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