Needing a new locomotive capable of taking heavier trains over steeply graded main lines the Chemin de Fer de l’Est (Eastern Railway) of France designed a powerful 4-8-2 (241 in the French system) “Mountain” locomotive. The prototype was constructed in 1925 and after a number of trials the production machines entered service in 1931. Like most French locomotives they were compounds, working on the de Glehn system.
As well as those locomotive built for the Est a number of locomotives to the same design were built for the Chemin de fer de l‘Etat (State Railway). They were less successful on the lines of the Etat and after the French railways were nationalised in 1938 all were moved to the former Est lines.
The locomotives were rebuilt, the Est examples in the ‘30s and the ex-Etat ones after moving east, in order to improve their efficiency. Classified 241A by the SNCF, they continued working until the 1960s when they were replaced by diesels. Two locomotives survive. The prototype 241A1 is in the French National Railway Museum Cité du Train at Mulhouse whilst 241A65 (originally Etat 241-001) has been restored to mainline running condition and is now based in Switzerland.
These models represent the locomotives in their rebuilt condition.
Features:
• Highly detailed models with authentic details
• Est and SNCF liveries
• Custom interior with controls
• PBR materials
• Selectable headlamps
• Scripted builders’ plates to match loco numbering
• ACS couplings
in progress...
