231 G Ouest
Encyclopedia
The 231 G was a series of 4-6-2
steam locomotive
s of the Chemin de Fer de l'État
("the État").
283 engines of this series were built starting in 1914, with deliveries from 1916 through 1923. They replaced and supplemented the 231 B
that had a tendency to derail
. The class was numbered 231-501 to 231-783 by the État and 231 G 501 to 231 G 783 by the SNCF
.
The engines were famous for their service on passenger trains, notably on the Paris
-Le Havre
and Paris-Le Mans-Rennes
expresses.
After World War I
other companies received 231-500s thanks to government aid. They were designated 231 TP for Travaux Publics (Public Works), the former name of the Ministry of Transport.
The 231 G was rated at 2200 hp. Engine 231-523 was modified in 1929 from four cylinders
to three, and had Lentz
valves fitted.
-Bordeaux
, Paris-Niort
, Paris-Saintes
, Paris-Cherbourg
, and Paris-Le Havre
runs. It ended its career on the run between Nantes
and Le Croisic
, and pulled its last train on 29 September 1968 when it was moved to Angers
. In 1969 it was used in Dieppe
as a heater for ferries. The SNCF wished to sell the engine for scrap in 1971, but the depot
manager in Sotteville
got the engine transferred to his depot in 1972. After five years of campaigning, the engine was sold to the depot staff for the token price of one franc
. The engine was listed for preservation on 4 June 1984. After 8,000 man-hours of work, the engine was made fit for mainline use. The engine was reviewed and received its timbre, a stamp showing the pressure of the forebox, on 28 November 1985 and was certified for mainline use on 30 May 1986. The Princess, as it is nicknamed, made its first run to Paris
on 29 June 1986.
In the summer of 2007, 231 G 558 could be found running daily on the branch line between Paimpol
and Pontrieux
in northern Brittany
.
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...
s 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 État").
283 engines of this series were built starting in 1914, with deliveries from 1916 through 1923. They replaced and supplemented the 231 B
231 B Ouest
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...
that 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....
. The class was numbered 231-501 to 231-783 by the État and 231 G 501 to 231 G 783 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 engines were famous for their service on passenger trains, notably on the Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
-Le Havre
Gare du Havre
Gare du Havre is the main station serving Le Havre and its suburbs in France. It is the western terminus of the Paris–Le Havre railway, opened in 1847. The station was built in 1932 by Henri Pacon for the CF de l'Etat replacing the older building along with a new clock tower. It is a terminus and...
and Paris-Le Mans-Rennes
Gare de Rennes
Rennes railway station is situated in the town centre of Rennes, France. It is situated on the Paris–Brest, Rennes–Saint-Malo and the Rennes–Redon railways....
expresses.
After World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
other companies received 231-500s thanks to government aid. They were designated 231 TP for Travaux Publics (Public Works), the former name of the Ministry of Transport.
The 231 G was rated at 2200 hp. Engine 231-523 was modified in 1929 from four cylinders
Cylinder (engine)
A cylinder is the central working part of a reciprocating engine or pump, the space in which a piston travels. Multiple cylinders are commonly arranged side by side in a bank, or engine block, which is typically cast from aluminum or cast iron before receiving precision machine work...
to three, and had Lentz
Hugo Lentz
Hugo Lentz was an Austrian mechanical engineer, born in South Africa. He was the inventor of many award winning improvements to the steam engine....
valves fitted.
231 G in preservation
231 G 558 was a Pacific engine of the État, built in 1922. It had a career pulling express passenger trains on the Paris-ChartresChartres
Chartres is a commune and capital of the Eure-et-Loir department in northern France. It is located southwest of Paris.-Geography:Chartres is built on the left bank of the Eure River, on a hill crowned by its famous cathedral, the spires of which are a landmark in the surrounding country...
-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...
, Paris-Niort
Niort
Niort is a commune in the Deux-Sèvres department in western France.The Latin name of the city was Novioritum.The population of Niort is 60,486 and more than 137,000 people live in the urban area....
, Paris-Saintes
Saintes
Saintes is a French commune located in Poitou-Charentes, in the southwestern Charente-Maritime department of which it is a sub-prefecture. Its inhabitants are called Saintaises and Saintais....
, Paris-Cherbourg
Gare de Cherbourg
Gare de Cherbourg is the railway station of the city of Cherbourg, France. It is the western terminus of the Mantes-la-Jolie–Cherbourg railway....
, and Paris-Le Havre
Gare du Havre
Gare du Havre is the main station serving Le Havre and its suburbs in France. It is the western terminus of the Paris–Le Havre railway, opened in 1847. The station was built in 1932 by Henri Pacon for the CF de l'Etat replacing the older building along with a new clock tower. It is a terminus and...
runs. It ended its career on the run between Nantes
Nantes
Nantes is a city in western France, located on the Loire River, from the Atlantic coast. The city is the 6th largest in France, while its metropolitan area ranks 8th with over 800,000 inhabitants....
and Le Croisic
Le Croisic
Le Croisic is a commune in the Loire-Atlantique department in western France.-References:...
, and pulled its last train on 29 September 1968 when it was moved to Angers
Angers
Angers is the main city in the Maine-et-Loire department in western France about south-west of Paris. Angers is located in the French region known by its pre-revolutionary, provincial name, Anjou, and its inhabitants are called Angevins....
. In 1969 it was used in Dieppe
Gare Maritime de Dieppe
Gare Maritime de Dieppe was a railway station in the town of Dieppe, Seine-Maritime, France and was built by CF de l'Ouest in 1874. The station was the station for passengers from Paris to Newhaven, by steamers and then ferries....
as a heater for ferries. The SNCF wished to sell the engine for scrap in 1971, but the depot
Engine shed
Engine shed may refer to:* Engine shed, also called a motive power depot or roundhouse, a structure used for the maintenance of railway locomotives.* Engine Shed , a music and entertainment venue on the University of Lincoln's campus....
manager in Sotteville
Sotteville-lès-Rouen
- Transportation :The métro connects the commune with Rouen and Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray.The commune used to be a railway town in the days of the old Rouen tramway.- Population :- Places of interest :* The three churches of Notre-Dame, St...
got the engine transferred to his depot in 1972. After five years of campaigning, the engine was sold to the depot staff for the token price of one franc
French franc
The franc was a currency of France. Along with the Spanish peseta, it was also a de facto currency used in Andorra . Between 1360 and 1641, it was the name of coins worth 1 livre tournois and it remained in common parlance as a term for this amount of money...
. The engine was listed for preservation on 4 June 1984. After 8,000 man-hours of work, the engine was made fit for mainline use. The engine was reviewed and received its timbre, a stamp showing the pressure of the forebox, on 28 November 1985 and was certified for mainline use on 30 May 1986. The Princess, as it is nicknamed, made its first run to Paris
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:...
on 29 June 1986.
In the summer of 2007, 231 G 558 could be found running daily on the branch line between Paimpol
Paimpol
Paimpol is a commune in the Côtes-d'Armor department in Brittany in northwestern France.It is a tourist destination, especially during the summer months when people are attracted by its port and beaches.-Population:...
and Pontrieux
Pontrieux
Pontrieux is a commune in the Côtes-d'Armor department in Bretagne in northwestern France.-Population:Inhabitants of Pontrieux are called pontriviens.-External links:*...
in northern Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
.