[ SECONDARY RAILWAYS IN FRANCE ][ CHEMINS DE FER RURAUX DE FRANCE ]
MAIN LINE STEAM IN FRANCE ( 7th update 2008 )
231 G 558
Locomotive: constructed at Batignolles-Chatillon at Nantes in 1922, the loco was operated by SNCF until 1968 and is the only class survivor. Coal-fired, it was restored in 1986 and 2002/2003.
Locomotive: built at North British Locomotice Company, Glasgow in 1917. Worked until 1972. One of a large class of locos which survived to the end of commercial steam in 1975.
Locomotive stopped for boiler renewal. The time out of service is unknown but the loco is unlikely to run while stable mate 141 TB 407 has a current certificate.
Locomotive: Another 140 C class member built by North British in Glasgow in 1917 which was withdrawn in 1975.
Owner: FACS
Operator: CFTV (Chemin de Fer Touristique du Vermandois)
Repairs are reported to be underway. The objective is for the locomotive to run on the main line again in 2009
It is hoped that 314 will be at the Steam Festival of the Baie de Somme in April 2009.
141 R 840
Locomotive: One of five preserved and operational oil-fired 2-8-2 multi-purpose locos built in Philadephia, United States, in 1946 and shipped to France. The loco weighs 190 tons, loaded, with its tender and has a maximum speed of 100 kph. It is deployed on about ten special trains a year since full restoration in 1997.
Locomotive: This was the star of the 1970's. Built in 1922 and withdrawn in 1970, this loco, owned by SNCF, started a film career (Murder on the Orient Express) and undertook a programme of special trains during the 1970's and 1980's as virually the only steam loco operating in France.
SNCF has not spent any money on restoring the loco which remains in pieces at Epernay
Owner & Operator: SNCF
Shed: Epernay
Website: none
Outlook:
There is a possibility that the locomotive is being re-assembled for transfer to a museum
Sister locomotive 230 G 352 has been transferred to Saint Quentin for renovation and future steaming in three to four years time.
Locomotive: Built in 1912 by the Henschel company and withdrawn in 1969, this loco was restored and put back into service in 1991.
The locomotive did not run in 2007. It is under repair at Gray.
No date can be set for the return to the main line
141 R 1126
Locomotive: Another preserved 141 R out of a total of 1,340 locos of this class shipped from the U.S. in 1946/47, in commercial service from 1947 to 1975. Restored and started heritage service in 1991. Based in Toulouse
Locomotive: This is a tank engine, built in 1932, which spent its life hauling suburban trains to and from Paris. It was withdrawn from service in 1967 after covering nearly 1 million kilometres.
A preservation association acquired the loco and put it back into service in 1982. It is used in the summer on tourist trains along the Limoges - Ussel line. It is also a film and TV star.
Owner & operator: CFTLP (Chemin de Fer Touristique Limousin-Perigord)
The locomotive was stopped early in 2007 season due to the need for a new wheel band on the front wheels
The locomotive is now at Bordeaux. The repairs to the front wheels are complete. Other repairs under way and a test run is scheduled for April 26th 2008.
141 TB 424
Locomotive: This is a tank engine built at Liege, Belgium in 1911, one of a class of fifteen. It spent its commercial life in suburban Paris. Owned by the SNCF and destined for the French National Railway Museum in Mulhouse, the loco was restored by the CFTR (Chemin de Fer Touristique du Rhin) in 1992 and operated by them until 1997. A new agreement put the loco into the care of AAATV for 8 years.
The loco is stored at the National Railway Museum of Mulhouse( now Cité du Train)
Owner : SNCF
Operator:CFTR
Shed: Mulhouse
Website: noneo
It is reported that the locomotive has been transferred to the care of the Chemin de fer Touristique du Rhin for completion of repairs.
A relative newcomer to the main line heritage steam scene in France, 141 R 1199 is owned by SNCF. The locomotive was built in the US in February 1947, delivered to France and operated in the west of that country until withdrawal in 1971.
Since 1993, the loco has been restored at Nantes by an association of volunteers. In September 2002, it was steamed for the first time since undergoing renovation. It is oil-fired. It started main line runs in 2004.
141 TB 407 has been under reconstruction at the AJECTA depot at Longueville, Seine & Marne for at least 20 years.
At last, the locomotive has passed its boiler test and on October 1st 2005, it was presented to the public in steam, at Longueville.
Trains in 2007.
The loco ended the 2007 season with a successful Paris - Troyes excursion
2008,
a Paris-Est - Longueville - Provins excursion was performed on March 23rd
A Paris Nord - Valmondois - Beauvais - Creil is CANCELLED for May 10th.
A Paris-Est - Reims is announced for Oct 4th
141 TB 407
241 P 17
One of the largest French locomotives, the 4-8-2 P 17, owned by the town of Le Creusot, returned to main line operation in 2006.
After 12 years of hard work, the locomotive was successively steamed again in November 2005.
An official inaugural run was completed on Sept 15th2006 from Le Creusot to Dijon.
In 2007 the locomotive had a busy and generally successful season, the high point was the Le Creusot - Lyon - Marseilles and back run with the Mistral express
2008
Programme
April 6th Le Creusot - Vichy (performed)
May 11th Dijon - Le Creusot
May 31st Lyon - Amberieu
June 1stLyon - Avignon
June 20th - 22nd Three trips from Lons le Saunier
to Amberieu, to Dijon and to Valence
The locomotive had a busy season in 2007, including participation on the Mistral train seen here at Paris Bercy at the end of its journey.
2008
June 1st Nantes - Rennes - Saint Malo
August 7th Nantes - Saint Gilles Croix de Vie
Sept 14th Nantes - La Rochelle
updated April 23rd 2008
Locomotives cleared for main line operation at this
time
Locomotives out of action at end 2007, for repair, reconstruction
Special meeting of three steam locomotives at Montluçon:
141 R 840 + 141 R 420 + 141 TD 740
June 21st 2008
Special meeting of three steam locomotives at Montluçon:
141 R 840 + 141 R 420 + 141 TD 740
June 21st 2008
Special meeting of three steam locomotives at Montluçon:
141 R 840 + 141 R 420 + 141 TD 740
2008 programme of trains now on the CFTLP web site
This page is intended to provide information about steam locomotives which are authorised to run on SNCF lines in France, and also information about those steam locomotives which are under repair but expected to return to main line running in the near future ( up to two years).
THE UMBRELLA !
This information comes from various sources. I believe the information is accurate at the time it is posted on to this page but there is no guarantee as to the availability and condition of the steam locomotives listed.
I am not a member of any of the listed associations and only have access to publicly disclosed information.
Those interested in any of the scheduled special trains should check with the operators for confirmation. Special steam trains on SNCF lines that have been announced can be cancelled at short notice for many reasons.
I try to keep this page up to date but occasionally changes may occur that are not immediately reflected in the texts.
Note that there are links on this page to web sites that I do not manage and for which I do not have any responsibilty.
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