140 C Ouest
Encyclopedia
The 140 C was a class of 2-8-0
steam locomotive
of the Chemin de Fer de l'État
, and subsequently the Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français (SNCF).
Schneider et Cie.
at La Cruesot, SACM at Belfort
, and Fives-Lille. These were built by and were put into service in 1913.
The declaration of war in 1914 forced the Chemin de Fer de l'État
to entrust the construction of the the second series of 200 locomotives to Nasmyth, Wilson and Company of Manchester
and North British Locomotive Company
of Glasgow
. Two hundred engines, numbered 140-171 to 140-370, were delivered in 1916 and 1917. Six engines were lost at sea on 30 April 1918, when the cargo ship transporting them, the was topedoed
off the north Cornish coast
, 14 nautical miles north of St Ives Head
. These engines were mostly used for hauling freight trains.
The third series of 70 locomotives was ordered by the French rail-mounted heavy artillary. (Artillerie Lourde sur Voie Ferrée, ALVF). They were numbered 1 to 70, and half were built by Vulcan Foundry
between 1919 and 1920. After the war, these 70 locomotives were sold, with half going to the Chemins de fer de l'Est
as Est 40.001 to 40.035, and half to the Chemins de fer de Paris à Lyon et à la Méditerranée
(PLM) as 140 K 1 to 140 K 35.
On the formation of the SNCF in 1938, the Est locomotives became 1-140 C to 1-140 C 35; the État locomotives became 3-140 C 101 to 3-140 C 370; and the PLM locomotives 5-140 K 1 to 5-140 K 35. After the World War II, the locomotives were concentrated in the Eastern Region, and while the ex-État locomotives only needed their region prefix changine from "3" to "1", the ex-PLM locmotives were renumbered to 1-40 C 36 to 1-140 C 70.
s, Mézidon, Le Mans, Rennes, Brest, Nantes and Bordeaux, and were used to haul many of the company's express trains; Paris-Le Havre, Paris-Cherbourg, Paris-Granville and on the Chemin de fer de Grande Ceinture.
The 140 Cs, hired out to CFTA, were the last steam locomotives in regular day-to-day commercial use on the French railway network. Their final area of operation was the CFTA
Réseau Franche-Comté, whose HQ was at Gray Gray
, Franche-Comté
. Operations were mainly centred on the line from Gray to Châtillon-sur-Seine
and Troyes
(in Champagne
). After the end of SNCF operated steam in 1974, the 140 Cs became the last operating 'main line' French steam locomotives. 140 C 287 pulled the last ever commercial steam train on French railway metals on 24 September 1975 between and Sainte-Colombe
.
Due to their prolonged use on parts of SNCF and on the CFTA, a total of eight engines were preserved; 140 C 22, 27, 38, 231, 287, 313, 314 and 344.
The engines' performances were honorable, and could haul 1000 ton trains at 50 km/h (31 mph) on the level, 550 ton trains at the same speed on gradients of 10‰ (1 in 100) and 260 ton trains on gradients of 20‰ (1 in 50).
in 1970 and were taken to Chaumont engine shed
in February 1971. None of the engines were ever reused and 140 C 230 was the only locomotive of the group of four to be scrapped. 140 C 231 was then taken from Chaumont to Longueville on 22 October 1972. 140 C 231, along with tender 18 C 482 is owned by the AJECTA and is chartered on French railways, 140 C 313 is currently plinthed at the SNCF station in Reims
, 140 C 314 is owned by the chemin de fer touristique du Vermandois (CFVT) and is used on its line.
2-8-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-8-0 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle , eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles, and no trailing wheels...
steam locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
of the Chemin de Fer de l'État
Chemin de Fer de l'État
The Chemins de fer de l'État , often referred to in France as the réseau de l'État , was an early French railway company.-History:...
, and subsequently the Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français (SNCF).
History
The 340 locomotives were ordered in three series. The first series, 70 locomotives, numbered 140-101 to 140-170 were built in France bySchneider et Cie.
Schneider Electric
Schneider Electric is a French global company. It was founded in 1836 by two brothers, Eugène and Adolphe Schneider.In the first part of the 20th century, Schneider et Cie associated itself with Westinghouse Systems, a major international electrical group at the time. The group began manufacturing...
at La Cruesot, SACM at Belfort
Belfort
Belfort is a commune in the Territoire de Belfort department in Franche-Comté in northeastern France and is the prefecture of the department. It is located on the Savoureuse, on the strategically important natural route between the Rhine and the Rhône – the Belfort Gap or Burgundian Gate .-...
, and Fives-Lille. These were built by and were put into service in 1913.
The declaration of war in 1914 forced the Chemin de Fer de l'État
Chemin de Fer de l'État
The Chemins de fer de l'État , often referred to in France as the réseau de l'État , was an early French railway company.-History:...
to entrust the construction of the the second series of 200 locomotives to Nasmyth, Wilson and Company of Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
and North British Locomotive Company
North British Locomotive Company
The North British Locomotive Company was created in 1903 through the merger of three Glasgow locomotive manufacturing companies; Sharp Stewart and Company , Neilson, Reid and Company and Dübs and Company , creating the largest locomotive manufacturing company in Europe.Its main factories were...
of Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. Two hundred engines, numbered 140-171 to 140-370, were delivered in 1916 and 1917. Six engines were lost at sea on 30 April 1918, when the cargo ship transporting them, the was topedoed
Torpedo
The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
off the north Cornish coast
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, 14 nautical miles north of St Ives Head
St Ives, Cornwall
St Ives is a seaside town, civil parish and port in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The town lies north of Penzance and west of Camborne on the coast of the Celtic Sea. In former times it was commercially dependent on fishing. The decline in fishing, however, caused a shift in commercial...
. These engines were mostly used for hauling freight trains.
The third series of 70 locomotives was ordered by the French rail-mounted heavy artillary. (Artillerie Lourde sur Voie Ferrée, ALVF). They were numbered 1 to 70, and half were built by Vulcan Foundry
Vulcan Foundry
Vulcan Foundry was a British locomotive builder sited at Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire .-History:It was originally opened in 1832 as Charles Tayleur and Company to produce girders for bridges, switches and crossings, and other ironwork following the opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway...
between 1919 and 1920. After the war, these 70 locomotives were sold, with half going to the Chemins de fer de l'Est
Chemins de fer de l'Est
The Compagnie des chemins de fer de l'Est , often referred to simply as the Est company, was an early French railway company. The company was formed in 1853 by fusion from Compagnie de Paris à Strasbourg, operating the Paris-Strasbourg line, and Compagnie du chemin de fer de Montereau à Troyes...
as Est 40.001 to 40.035, and half to the Chemins de fer de Paris à Lyon et à la Méditerranée
Chemins de fer de Paris à Lyon et à la Méditerranée
The Compagnie des chemins de fer de Paris à Lyon et à la Méditerranée was a French railway company ....
(PLM) as 140 K 1 to 140 K 35.
On the formation of the SNCF in 1938, the Est locomotives became 1-140 C to 1-140 C 35; the État locomotives became 3-140 C 101 to 3-140 C 370; and the PLM locomotives 5-140 K 1 to 5-140 K 35. After the World War II, the locomotives were concentrated in the Eastern Region, and while the ex-État locomotives only needed their region prefix changine from "3" to "1", the ex-PLM locmotives were renumbered to 1-40 C 36 to 1-140 C 70.
Service
The 140 Cs were allocated to all the main État depotMotive power depot
Motive power depot, usually abbreviated to MPD, is a name given to places where locomotives are stored when not being used, and also repaired and maintained. They were originally known as "running sheds", "engine sheds", or, for short, just sheds. Facilities are provided for refuelling and...
s, Mézidon, Le Mans, Rennes, Brest, Nantes and Bordeaux, and were used to haul many of the company's express trains; Paris-Le Havre, Paris-Cherbourg, Paris-Granville and on the Chemin de fer de Grande Ceinture.
The 140 Cs, hired out to CFTA, were the last steam locomotives in regular day-to-day commercial use on the French railway network. Their final area of operation was the CFTA
Chemins de fer et transport automobile
Chemins de fer et transport automobile is a French transport company descended from the Société générale des chemins de fer économiques which operated thousands of kilometres of local railways in France in the late 19th century through to the 1930s.CFTA became a part of the Veolia Transport as...
Réseau Franche-Comté, whose HQ was at Gray Gray
Gray, Haute-Saône
Gray is a commune in the Haute-Saône department in the region of Franche-Comté in eastern France. It has a population of 6,175 inhabitants .-Geography:Gray is situated on the banks of the Saône River...
, Franche-Comté
Franche-Comté
Franche-Comté the former "Free County" of Burgundy, as distinct from the neighbouring Duchy, is an administrative region and a traditional province of eastern France...
. Operations were mainly centred on the line from Gray to Châtillon-sur-Seine
Châtillon-sur-Seine
Châtillon-sur-Seine is a commune of the Côte-d'Or department in eastern France.-Population:-Personalities:Châtillon-sur-Seine was the birthplace of:* Auguste Marmont, duke of Ragusa , Marshal of France...
and Troyes
Troyes
Troyes is a commune and the capital of the Aube department in north-central France. It is located on the Seine river about southeast of Paris. Many half-timbered houses survive in the old town...
(in Champagne
Champagne-Ardenne
Champagne-Ardenne is one of the 27 regions of France. It is located in the northeast of the country, bordering Belgium, and consists of four departments: Aube, Ardennes, Haute-Marne, and Marne. The region is famous for its sparkling white wine . Its rivers, most of which flow west, include the...
). After the end of SNCF operated steam in 1974, the 140 Cs became the last operating 'main line' French steam locomotives. 140 C 287 pulled the last ever commercial steam train on French railway metals on 24 September 1975 between and Sainte-Colombe
Sainte-Colombe, Seine-et-Marne
Sainte-Colombe is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France.-External links:* * *...
.
Due to their prolonged use on parts of SNCF and on the CFTA, a total of eight engines were preserved; 140 C 22, 27, 38, 231, 287, 313, 314 and 344.
Design
The engines had an output of 1210 hp and capable of a speed of up 70 km/h (43 mph). Their light weight per axle made them capable of hauling both passenger and goods trains on most of the État's network.The engines' performances were honorable, and could haul 1000 ton trains at 50 km/h (31 mph) on the level, 550 ton trains at the same speed on gradients of 10‰ (1 in 100) and 260 ton trains on gradients of 20‰ (1 in 50).
140 C in preservation
Four locomotives, 140 C 230, 140 C 231, 140 C 313 and 140 C 314 were, thanks to their general good condition, chosen by the CFTA to form a reserve pool of engines. They received servicing at Le MansLe Mans
Le Mans is a city in France, located on the Sarthe River. Traditionally the capital of the province of Maine, it is now the capital of the Sarthe department and the seat of the Roman Catholic diocese of Le Mans. Le Mans is a part of the Pays de la Loire region.Its inhabitants are called Manceaux...
in 1970 and were taken to Chaumont engine shed
Motive power depot
Motive power depot, usually abbreviated to MPD, is a name given to places where locomotives are stored when not being used, and also repaired and maintained. They were originally known as "running sheds", "engine sheds", or, for short, just sheds. Facilities are provided for refuelling and...
in February 1971. None of the engines were ever reused and 140 C 230 was the only locomotive of the group of four to be scrapped. 140 C 231 was then taken from Chaumont to Longueville on 22 October 1972. 140 C 231, along with tender 18 C 482 is owned by the AJECTA and is chartered on French railways, 140 C 313 is currently plinthed at the SNCF station in Reims
Reims
Reims , a city in the Champagne-Ardenne region of France, lies east-northeast of Paris. Founded by the Gauls, it became a major city during the period of the Roman Empire....
, 140 C 314 is owned by the chemin de fer touristique du Vermandois (CFVT) and is used on its line.