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Locomotive SNCF 141 R

The SNCF 141 R was a class of steam locomotives built for  Société nationale des chemins de fer français, SNCF, (French National Railway) after World War II. These locomotives were ordered from North American manufacturers to quickly rebuild France’s war-torn railway network. The 141 R became one of the most famous and widely used steam locomotives in France. After the destruction of many French steam locomotives during World War II, SNCF urgently needed new locomotives to restore rail services. Instead of waiting for domestic manufacturers to rebuild, SNCF turned to North America, where large-scale steam locomotive production could meet demand quickly. 1.340 units were ordered in 1945 from US and Canadian locomotive works. The design was based on the Green Bay & Western Railroad's successfully customised Mikados, based somewhat on the USRA Light Mikado, suitably modified to meet the SNCF loading gauge. Modifications included the overall height, the fitting of European couplers and buffers, left-hand drive and smoke deflectors. The first engine, the 141 R 1 left the workshops in July 1945. The 141 R 466 was the first to be unloaded in France in November 1945. The last of the series, the 141 R 1340, left the workshop in July 1947 and in September was unloaded at the port of Cherbourg. Seventeen engines (the 141 R 1220–1235 and 141 R 1241) were lost at sea when the ship transporting them, the Norwegian ship MS Belpamela sank in a violent storm off Newfoundland in April 1947. So of the 1340 engines initially ordered, only 1323 entered in service on the French network. Key specifications were weight: 136 ton and maximum speed: 100 km/h. Despite being an American/Canadian design, the 141 R was highly regarded by French railway workers for its reliability, ease of maintenance, and efficiency and  the 141 R was considered one of the best steam locomotives ever used by SNCF. The locomotives were used across all regions of France, on both mainline and branch lines. The second batch of 141 Rs were built as oil burners, burning preheated heavy fuel oil (known in French as 'Mazout'), unlike the first batch which had all been designed as coal fired. The massive introduction of oil fired locomotives was due to the fact that in the immediate post-war period, the quality coal was in high demand and SNCF consumed 9 million tons per annum. The coal-burning versions (numbered 141 R 1 – 700) were mostly used in coal-rich regions. The oil-fired versions (numbered 141 R 701 – 1340) were particularly used in areas where coal was scarce.  The 141 R remained in operation until 1975, when SNCF completely transitioned to diesel and electric locomotives. In 1975 the last 141 R in use with the SNCF, 141 R 1187 of Vénissieux depot, worked a special return working between Lyon and Veynes. Four locomotives of Narbonne depot were leased to the Hellenic State Railways from 1973 to 1974. Several of the 141 R locomotives are preserved in museums or by railway preservation groups.

February 15th 2025

 

 
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