The État 2951 to 2960, 221-101 to 110 from 1909 (later SNCF 3-221.A.101 to 110), is a class of 4-4-2 Atlantic type locomotive for passenger and express of the Administation des chemins de fer de l’État. They were SACM Atlantics extrapolated from the PO 3001 to 3014, developped by Émile Solacroup.
Description[]
These Atlantic engines were saturated steam, 4-cylinders compounding locomotives, with uncrossed cylinders. The chassis' side rails were made with sheets measuring 30mm (1.18in) thick, and were placed inside in relation to the wheels. They have a front steering bogie, with wheels with a diameter of 0.90m (3ft), six-coupled driving axles, with wheels with a diameter of 2.04m (6.69ft), and a rear load-bearing axle with wheels with a diameter of 1.42m (4.6ft). The movement of the driving wheels is driven by a Walschaert valve gear.
The class was fitted with a Belpaire-type fire box, with a fire grate of an area of 3.10m² (33.3ft²), which heats a boiler stamped at 16 bars (232.06 psi), the whole offering a total heating surface of 239.4m² (2,577ft²). The regulator dome was located between the second and the third ferrule. The sandpits were located on the wheels splashers. The safety valve was placed on top of the fire box.
Estheticaly and technicaly, they were identical to the class 3000 of the PO, with the same bogie with an inner frame, the same closed cabin with two small openings on each sides, and the same proportions of the firegrate and the heating area, bigger then on the Nord and Midi Atlantics. The only thing which allows to differentiate the two classes with the naked eye, is the sandpits placement. Right above the first splasher on the État Atlantic, and in the front of the first splasher on the PO Atlantic.
Liveries[]
When being owned by the État Railway, the 2950's were painted in the État Black livery with yellow strips. Two engines number plate were placed on top of the smoke box framing the chimney. The engine's number was painted on the buffer beam in yellow, with the État acronym. From 1909, The black livery was replaced by a new Celtic Green livery, with smoke box, chassis, outside cylinders and wheels painted in black, and the buffer beam in red. The brass on the boiler, and windows outlines were exposed. Two new brass number plates were disposed on the sand boxes placed on top of the first splasher. The engine's number was painted on the buffer beam in yellow, with the État acronym.
After the formation of the SNCF in 1938, It is most likely that they continued to wear their État livery, with SNCF's acronyms and numbers applied.
Tenders[]
The 2950s were coupled to three axles tenders, with a cappacity of 22m² (4,839.3 UK Gal; 5,811.8 US Gal). These tenders would formed the SNCF class 3-22.B.
History[]
In 1903, the État acquired 10 American design Atlantics, built by Baldwin and numbered 2901 to 2910. If they would show good performances, there conception, different from the French Railway conceptions, posed some problems, including an excessive consumption of coal and a difficult track holding when driving at high speeds. Meanwhile the PO Railway commissioned 14 SACM Atlantics, supperior in performances to the Baldwins, to ensure express trains between Paris and Bordeaux. A link also provided by the État. To compete with the PO, the État decided to get SACM Atlantics too, identical to the one of the PO, as they were the most advanced French Atlantics at that time.
État 2951 to 2960, then 221-101 to 110[]
The État ordered 10 locomotives to Cail & Co., which were built and delivered in 1906. Upon their arrival, the new Atlantic locomotives formed the class 2950, and received the numbers 2951 to 2960. They have the particularity to be the first locomotives of the railways to not receive names. They were first allocated at the depots of Paris-Vaugirard and Thouars, where they ensured express trains between Paris and Bordeaux, with a stop halfway at Thouars to change the locomotive. They also received the fast train no. 99, from Paris to Royan, one of the most important trains of the Railway at the time.
With the acquisition of the Ouest Railway by the state in 1909, and the incorporation of Its property into the État Railway, some SACM Atlantics, were unstained to the depots of Paris-Batignolles and Sotteville. While waiting for the power locomotive crisis, which had been experienced by the West and inherited by the État, to be able to end. However some 2950s, maybe the entire class saw their cab roof being rounded, so they could fit the Ouest gauge. During the same year, they have been renumbered to 221-101 to 110. They ensured express passenger and goods trains in Normandy. The arrival of the Pacific locomotives from the class 231-500, during the early 1920s, put an end to the SACM Atlantics services in Normandy, and they moved to the region of the Charentes.
During the 1920s, the class was allocated at Thouars. They ensured during this period three daily local trains between from Thouars to Niort. They would be taken over by the class 230-171 to 230. The Atlantics ensured also a summer express from Tours to Les-Sables-d'Olonnes. Later, this train would also be taken over by the class 230-781 to 800. During the second part of the 1930s, the class was reallocated at La Rochelle and at Saintes in the Southern part of the network. They provide services on the routes of: La Rochelle-Poitiers; Angoulême-Saintes-Royan; La Rochelle-Bordeaux. In 1935, La Rochelle owned 9 locomotives of this class. Only no. 221-102, was allocated at Sotteville.
SNCF 3-221.A.101 to 110[]
In 1938, at the creation of the Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français (SNCF), the 221-100s formed the class 3-221.A.101 to 110 of the Western region. In 1939, no. 3-221.A.102 moved again to the depot of Saintes. In 1940, during the German occupation, the class was spread across the depots of Saintes for nos. 3-221.A.101, 105, 107 and 109, and La Rochelle for nos. 3-221.A.102 to 104, 106, 108 and 110. In February 1944, nos. 3-221.A.101 and 105 moved to the depot of Saint Mariens before coming back to Saintes in October of the same year. During the night of the 23rd to the 24th of June 1944, no. 3-221.A.107 was destroyed by a air bombing at Saintes. The locomotives of La Rochelle were trapped in the city kept by the German admiral Schirlitz, during the Liberation of France. The city would only surrender the day of the signature of the German capitualtion, on May 8th 1945. The four locomotives 3-221.A.101, 103, 106 and 109, were too damaged to return to service and they were withdrawn during the year. Putting an end to half of the class.
The surviving SACM Atlantics, nos. 3-221.A.102, 104, 105, 108 and 110, were used to ensure local passenger trains between La Rochelle and Saintes and between Saintes and Royan. But this return would be quite short, as the last member of the class no. 3-221.A.110, would be the last of Its class and the last pre-grouping French Atlantic to be withdrawn on November 15th 1949.
Sources[]
- FOURNIER, Luc (2014), Les 221 2951 à 2960 du réseau de l'Etat, le soleil se couche à l'ouest, La Revue Périodique du Cercle Historique du Rail Français, Special Edition no. 3, 49-52.