231 C Nord
Encyclopedia
The 231 C Nord was a class of 4-6-2
(Pacific type) steam locomotive
of the Chemin de Fer du Nord
. It served in the North of France
and Belgium
. The first batch were built in 1923, and last remaining were retired from service in the 60's. These locomotives were widely known as "superpacifics" due to their high performance, which made them famous even in Britain.
had need of a locomotive able to travel from Paris
to Lille
, pulling a 300 ton passenger train at 120 km/h. The locomotive therefore needed a tender able to hold 37 m³ of water and 8 tons of coal.
pacific locomotive, with superheating
, and a narrow firebox 3 m long. capable of output of 2700 hp. The appearance was due to Gaston Schaeffer who grouped all the outside pipes together and ran them along the boiler. Their boilers were superb, which is the reason why Andre Chapelon
later based some of his locomotive boilers on this design.
The locomotives were not equipped with mechanical stokers which made the job of the fireman
harder as he had to throw the coal uniformly throughout the firebox. The cab was not enclosed, a characteristic found throughout the Chemin de Fer du Nord
, and drivers gave it the nickname rendez-vous des courants d'air. The Nord specification tender was built to such a quality that the SNCF
used the same design for its own tender locomotives twenty years later.
in 1938, and were the most prestigious locomotives of the company. They were painted in a dark brown livery with cream lines.
's 231 Pacific locomotive, copied from the 231 D Ouest engines of the Chemin de Fer de l'État
. The last few examples were withdrawn from service during the 196os. Chapelon often said that the only modification he had made to the design was the fitting of a Kylchap
, thus enhancing smoke ejection. (The Kylchap was named so due to the names of its creators, Kylälä
and Chapelon.)
The engine is also famous due to a 1:87 HO railway model reproduced made by Jouef
in the 1960s.
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...
(Pacific type) 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 du Nord
Chemin de Fer du Nord
Chemin de Fer du Nord , often referred to simply as the Nord company, was a rail transport company created in September 1845, in Paris, France. It was owned by among others de Rothschild Frères of France, N M Rothschild & Sons of London, England, Hottinger, Laffitte and Blount...
. It served in the North of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. The first batch were built in 1923, and last remaining were retired from service in the 60's. These locomotives were widely known as "superpacifics" due to their high performance, which made them famous even in Britain.
Background
The Chemin de Fer du NordChemin de Fer du Nord
Chemin de Fer du Nord , often referred to simply as the Nord company, was a rail transport company created in September 1845, in Paris, France. It was owned by among others de Rothschild Frères of France, N M Rothschild & Sons of London, England, Hottinger, Laffitte and Blount...
had need of a locomotive able to travel from Paris
Gare du Nord
Paris Nord is one of the six large terminus railway stations of the SNCF mainline network for Paris, France. It offers connections with several urban transportation lines, including Paris Métro and RER...
to Lille
Gare de Lille-Flandres
Lille-Flandres is the main station of the city of Lille, France. It is a terminus for SNCF Intercity and regional trains and was named Flandres in 1993 when Lille-Europe station opened....
, pulling a 300 ton passenger train at 120 km/h. The locomotive therefore needed a tender able to hold 37 m³ of water and 8 tons of coal.
Design
In 1923 Marc de Caso designed a four cylinder compoundCompound locomotive
A compound engine unit is a type of steam engine where steam is expanded in two or more stages.A typical arrangement for a compound engine is that the steam is first expanded in a high-pressure cylinder, then having given up heat and losing pressure, it exhausts directly into one or more larger...
pacific locomotive, with superheating
Superheater
A superheater is a device used to convert saturated steam or wet steam into dry steam used for power generation or processes. There are three types of superheaters namely: radiant, convection, and separately fired...
, and a narrow firebox 3 m long. capable of output of 2700 hp. The appearance was due to Gaston Schaeffer who grouped all the outside pipes together and ran them along the boiler. Their boilers were superb, which is the reason why Andre Chapelon
André Chapelon
André Chapelon was a noted French mechanical engineer and designer of advanced steam locomotives. Engineer of Ecole Centrale Paris, he was one of very few locomotive designers who brought a rigorous scientific method to their design, and he sought to apply up-to-date knowledge and theories in...
later based some of his locomotive boilers on this design.
The locomotives were not equipped with mechanical stokers which made the job of the fireman
Fireman
Fireman may refer to::* Firefighter, person who extinguishes fires and rescues people from harms way.* Fire Safety Officer, a senior ranking firefighter or Fire Safety Inspector in the UK...
harder as he had to throw the coal uniformly throughout the firebox. The cab was not enclosed, a characteristic found throughout the Chemin de Fer du Nord
Chemin de Fer du Nord
Chemin de Fer du Nord , often referred to simply as the Nord company, was a rail transport company created in September 1845, in Paris, France. It was owned by among others de Rothschild Frères of France, N M Rothschild & Sons of London, England, Hottinger, Laffitte and Blount...
, and drivers gave it the nickname rendez-vous des courants d'air. The Nord specification tender was built to such a quality that 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...
used the same design for its own tender locomotives twenty years later.
Numbering and livery
The class was numbered 3.1201 to 3.1248 and 3.1251 to 3.1290 before the nationalisation of the Chemin de Fer du NordChemin de Fer du Nord
Chemin de Fer du Nord , often referred to simply as the Nord company, was a rail transport company created in September 1845, in Paris, France. It was owned by among others de Rothschild Frères of France, N M Rothschild & Sons of London, England, Hottinger, Laffitte and Blount...
in 1938, and were the most prestigious locomotives of the company. They were painted in a dark brown livery with cream lines.
Career
The 231 Cs performed well for many years and were only surpassed by André ChapelonAndré Chapelon
André Chapelon was a noted French mechanical engineer and designer of advanced steam locomotives. Engineer of Ecole Centrale Paris, he was one of very few locomotive designers who brought a rigorous scientific method to their design, and he sought to apply up-to-date knowledge and theories in...
's 231 Pacific locomotive, copied from the 231 D Ouest engines 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 last few examples were withdrawn from service during the 196os. Chapelon often said that the only modification he had made to the design was the fitting of a Kylchap
Kylchap
The Kylchap steam locomotive steam locomotive exhaust system was designed and patented by the famous French steam engineer André Chapelon, using a second-stage nozzle designed by the Finnish engineer Kyösti Kylälä and known as the Kylälä spreader; thus the name KylChap for this design.The Kylchap...
, thus enhancing smoke ejection. (The Kylchap was named so due to the names of its creators, Kylälä
Kyösti Kylälä
Kyösti Kylälä was a Finnish Railroad engineer and self taught inventor, from Helsinki. In 1919 he patented in the UK an 'Improved means for increasing the draught in steam boilers, especially on locomotives.'...
and Chapelon.)
The engine is also famous due to a 1:87 HO railway model reproduced made by Jouef
Jouef
Jouef was a French manufacturer that specialized in model trains and other vehicles. Jouef is one of the world's most famous hobby brands, perhaps only slightly less well-known than Schuco, Marklin, Lines Brothers or Lionel..-History:...
in the 1960s.