231 B Ouest
Encyclopedia
The 231 B was a small class of 4-6-2
steam locomotive
of the Chemin de Fer de l'État
.
The series of 50 engines was built 1910. After some difficult early days, the engines became part of the SNCF
's 231 class. The class was numbered 231-011 to 231-060 by the Chemin de Fer de l'État
and 231 B 1 to 231 B 60 by the SNCF
.
The 231s was inspired by two engines; the firebox was the one of the Pacific 2900 and the wheels of the 230 J
. They were coupled to 22 m³ and were very sober in appearance.
These engines had a tendency to derail
, and forced the Chemin de Fer de l'État
to change the leading bogies. Two of these accidents happened at Perray and the other at Bernay
on 10 September 1910
After a temporary use solely on goods trains and at 60 km/h, the engines had their leading bogie modified and was reallocated to passenger service in 1912.
From 1912, the 231 Bs were allocated to the Bâtignoles and Vaugirard and mainly pulled express trains to Le Havre
, Cherbourg, Le Mans
, Thouars
and on the Deauville Express.
Around 1922, half the class was moved to Dieppe
which gave the class the nickname of Dieppoises. Many did pull the express from Gare Saint-Lazare
to Dieppe
via Pontoise
. From 1929, the class was responsible for the expresses between Dieppe
and Le Mans
and the Manche-Océan, between Dieppe and Bordeaux
.
Several engines received smoke deflectors in 1931 as well ACFI feedwater heater
s. The class was renumbered 231 B 1 to 231 B 60 in 1938.
Around 1945, a project including the increase of power to 1700 hp to create a class of 231 L engines failed and the engines ran until 1956.
4-6-2
4-6-2, in the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle .These locomotives are also known as Pacifics...
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:...
.
The series of 50 engines was built 1910. After some difficult early days, the engines became part of the SNCF
SNCF
The SNCF , is France's national state-owned railway company. SNCF operates the country's national rail services, including the TGV, France's high-speed rail network...
's 231 class. The class was numbered 231-011 to 231-060 by 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 231 B 1 to 231 B 60 by the SNCF
SNCF
The SNCF , is France's national state-owned railway company. SNCF operates the country's national rail services, including the TGV, France's high-speed rail network...
.
The 231s was inspired by two engines; the firebox was the one of the Pacific 2900 and the wheels of the 230 J
230 J Ouest
The 230 J was a small class of 4-6-0 steam locomotive of the Chemin de Fer de l'État.The series of 20 engines was built 1912 with wheels 2.04 m in diametre and coupled with 21 m³ tenders. These machines, liked by drivers of the Chemin de Fer de l'État, were nicknamed Jocondes.In 1936,...
. They were coupled to 22 m³ and were very sober in appearance.
These engines had a tendency to derail
Derailment
A derailment is an accident on a railway or tramway in which a rail vehicle, or part or all of a train, leaves the tracks on which it is travelling, with consequent damage and in many cases injury and/or death....
, and 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 change the leading bogies. Two of these accidents happened at Perray and the other at Bernay
Gare de Bernay
The Gare de Bernay is the train station for the town of Bernay, Eure and was built by CF de fer de Paris à Cherbourg in 1855. It is situated on the Mantes-la-Jolie–Cherbourg railway. The station was, like most stations on the line to Cherbourg, built by the line's first concessionary, the Compagnie...
on 10 September 1910
After a temporary use solely on goods trains and at 60 km/h, the engines had their leading bogie modified and was reallocated to passenger service in 1912.
From 1912, the 231 Bs were allocated to the Bâtignoles and Vaugirard and mainly pulled express trains to Le Havre
Le Havre
Le Havre is a city in the Seine-Maritime department of the Haute-Normandie region in France. It is situated in north-western France, on the right bank of the mouth of the river Seine on the English Channel. Le Havre is the most populous commune in the Haute-Normandie region, although the total...
, Cherbourg, Le Mans
Le 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...
, Thouars
Thouars
Thouars is a commune in the Deux-Sèvres department in western France.It is on the River Thouet. Its inhabitants are known as Thouarsais.-History:...
and on the Deauville Express.
Around 1922, half the class was moved to Dieppe
Gare de Dieppe
Gare de Dieppe is the train station for the town of Dieppe, Seine-Maritime and was built by Chemins de Fer de Paris à Cherbourg on 28 July 1848. It used to have a direct connection with Paris-St. Lazare via Serqueux and Gisors, but this line was closed in 2006. Along with Dieppe-Port, it was a stop...
which gave the class the nickname of Dieppoises. Many did pull the express from Gare Saint-Lazare
Gare Saint-Lazare
Paris Saint-Lazare is one of the six large terminus train stations of Paris. It is the second busiest in Paris, behind the Gare du Nord, handling 274,000 passengers each day.-History:...
to Dieppe
Gare de Dieppe
Gare de Dieppe is the train station for the town of Dieppe, Seine-Maritime and was built by Chemins de Fer de Paris à Cherbourg on 28 July 1848. It used to have a direct connection with Paris-St. Lazare via Serqueux and Gisors, but this line was closed in 2006. Along with Dieppe-Port, it was a stop...
via Pontoise
Gare de Pontoise
Pontoise is the train station serving the city of Pontoise and the surrounding suburbs. The station is a large building situated on Place Charles de Gaulle itself at the bottom end of Rue Thiers...
. From 1929, the class was responsible for the expresses between Dieppe
Dieppe, Seine-Maritime
Dieppe is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in France. In 1999, the population of the whole Dieppe urban area was 81,419.A port on the English Channel, famous for its scallops, and with a regular ferry service from the Gare Maritime to Newhaven in England, Dieppe also has a popular pebbled...
and Le Mans
Le 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...
and the Manche-Océan, between Dieppe and Bordeaux
Gare de Bordeaux Etat
Bordeaux-État or Bordeaux-Deschamps was a mainline railway station in the French city of Bordeaux.The station was at the terminus of the line from Paris of the CF de l'État...
.
Several engines received smoke deflectors in 1931 as well ACFI feedwater heater
Feedwater heater
A feedwater heater is a power plant component used to pre-heat water delivered to a steam generating boiler. Preheating the feedwater reduces the irreversibilities involved in steam generation and therefore improves the thermodynamic efficiency of the system...
s. The class was renumbered 231 B 1 to 231 B 60 in 1938.
Around 1945, a project including the increase of power to 1700 hp to create a class of 231 L engines failed and the engines ran until 1956.