The Est Class 12s no. 231-051 to 073 (later SNCF 1-231.C.51 to 73), formed a class of 22 4-6-2 Pacific type engines, for passenger duties for the Compagnie des Chemins de fer de l'Est. These Pacifics were "Chapelon Pacifics" of the 2nd type, former PO Pacifics from the 3500 class rebuilt by André Chapelon.
History[]
In 1929, on the PO railway, the railway engineer, André Chapelon, proceedded to the transformation of a pacific from the class PO 3501 to 3589, no. 3566. These modifications had made It the most powerful French Pacific, and its performances interested railways. The Est railway, despite having switched on engines with a bigger wheel arrangement, decided to test no. 3566 alongside no. 41001, on the Paris-Belfort line. As the Chapelon Pacific showed to be more powerful and more more economical, the Est decided to place an order of 22 engines to the PO.
Est Class 12s 231-051 to 073[]
The Est Railway received 22 engines which wee former PO 3500s rebuilt at the P.O's Locomotive Workshops at Tours. They were Chapelon Pacifics of the 2nd type, an improved version of the Capelon Pacifics of the 1st type (indcluding no. 3566). These 22 engines formed the class 12s and were numbered 231-051 to 073. They were allocated to the depot of Troyes and were used to ensure the heaviest trains on the Paris-Belfort and Paris-Charleville lines.
However, if the Chapelons were a succcess in term of power and economies, they were seen as very complicated to drive for most of the drivers of the company. Only the drivers of the depot of Troyes were able to drive them, and the Pacifcs were very appriciated by the crews. And so the company would put aside these powerful engines, and would prefered its Mountain engines.
SNCF 1-231.C.51 to 73 and 401 to 417[]
In 1938, the 22 Chaplon Pacifics were incorporated into the SNCF's roster, and received the numbers 1-231.C.51 to 73. In 1940, during War World II, and the occupation of France by the Germans, the 1-231.Cs were allocated in the depots of Paris-La Villette, and during some months at Vaires, to overcome the lack of engines, requisitionned by the occupying forces. At the end of the conflict, only one engine, no. 1-231.C.63 was lost after being took by the Germans during their retreat.
After the war, the class was divided up between the depots of Paris-La Villette (12 engines), Nancy (for a short time), Mohon (10 engines), and the rest of the class was at Troyes. In 1946, the Eastern region received 17 Chapelon Pacifics of the 1st type, from the Southwestern region (SNCF 4-231.F.701 to 717) from the former class PO 3700, because they have become obsolete on their original region. They received the numbers 1-231.C.401 to 417, and were allocated at Troyes, where they operated most of the traffic between Paris and Chalindrey. In 1950, the Chapelons pulled the express no. 41 from Troyes to Belfort, to more than 100 km/h (62 mph) despite having two stops at Chaumont and Vesoul, It was the fastest steam train of the country at the time.
In 1948, the engines no. 1-231.C.401 to 417 were spread to the depots of Bar-le-duc and Troyes, from they ensured services towards Paris, Metz and Nancy. In 1951, they became new obsolete, no. 1-231.C.412 to 417, were send back to the Southwestern region and they received again their numbers 4-231.F.712 to 717, the other engines were withdrawn from service and scrapped.
During the 1950s, the SNCF launched its plan of elecritification of its network. To ensure the transition, 105 ex-PLM pacifics from the classes 231.G and 231.K moved to the Eastern region. They progressively replaced the 1-231.Cs, taking the express no. 41 and 46 to them. On the 1st January 1957, there was still 33 Chapelons in service in the Eastern region, before being withdran in 1958.
Gallery[]
Stock List[]
| PO and PO-Midi Numbers | Est Numbers | SNCF Numbers | Reconstructor | Commissioning | Withdrawn | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3576 | 231-051 | 1-231.C.51 | PO Engine Works | 1935 | --- | |
| 3539 | 231-052 | 1-231.C.52 | PO Engine Works | 1935 | --- | |
| 3581 | 231-053 | 1-231.C.53 | PO Engine Works | 1935 | --- | |
| 3550 | 231-054 | 1-231.C.54 | PO Engine Works | 1935 | --- | |
| 3547 | 231-055 | 1-231.C.55 | PO Engine Works | 1935 | --- | |
| 3569 | 231-056 | 1-231.C.56 | PO Engine Works | 1935 | --- | |
| 3534 | 231-057 | 1-231.C.57 | PO Engine Works | 1935 | --- | |
| 3530 | 231-058 | 1-231.C.58 | PO Engine Works | 1935 | --- | |
| 3564 | 231-059 | 1-231.C.59 | PO Engine Works | 1935 | --- | |
| 3572 | 231-060 | 1-231.C.60 | PO Engine Works | 1935 | --- | |
| 3561 | 231-061 | 1-231.C.61 | PO Engine Works | 1935 | --- | |
| 3586 | 231-062 | 1-231.C.62 | PO Engine Works | 1935 | --- | |
| 3531 | 231-063 | 1-231.C.63 | PO Engine Works | 1935 | --- | |
| 3527 | 231-064 | 1-231.C.64 | PO Engine Works | 1935 | --- | |
| 3568 | 231-065 | 1-231.C.65 | PO Engine Works | 1935 | --- | |
| 3531 | 231-066 | 1-231.C.66 | PO Engine Works | 1935 | --- | |
| 3537 | 231-067 | 1-231.C.67 | PO Engine Works | 1935 | --- | |
| 3582 | 231-068 | 1-231.C.68 | PO Engine Works | 1935 | --- | |
| 3521 | 231-069 | 1-231.C.69 | PO Engine Works | 1935 | --- | |
| 3559 | 231-070 | 1-231.C.70 | PO Engine Works | 1935 | --- | |
| 3573 | 231-071 | 1-231.C.71 | PO Engine Works | 1935 | --- | |
| 3529 | 231-072 | 1-231.C.72 | PO Engine Works | 1935 | --- | |
| 3563 | 231-073 | 1-231.C.73 | PO Engine Works | 1935 | --- | |
| 3566 then, 3701 then, 231-701 |
--- | 4-231.F.701 then, 1-231.C.401 |
PO Engine Works | 1929 | --- | |
| 3702 then, 231-702 |
--- | 4-231.F.702 then, 1-231.C.402 |
PO Engine Works | --- | --- | |
| 3703 then, 231-703 |
--- | 4-231.F.703 then, 1-231.C.403 |
PO Engine Works | --- | --- | |
| 3704 then, 231-704 |
--- | 4-231.F.704 then, 1-231.C.404 |
PO Engine Works | --- | --- | |
| 3705 then, 231-705 |
--- | 4-231.F.705 then, 1-231.C.405 |
PO Engine Works | --- | --- | |
| 3706 then, 231-706 |
--- | 4-231.F.706 then, 1-231.C.406 |
PO Engine Works | --- | --- | |
| 3707 then, 231-707 |
--- | 4-231.F.707 then, 1-231.C.407 |
PO Engine Works | --- | --- | |
| 3708 then, 231-708 |
--- | 4-231.F.708 then, 1-231.C.408 |
PO Engine Works | --- | --- | |
| 3709 then, 231-709 |
--- | 4-231.F.709 then, 1-231.C.409 |
PO Engine Works | --- | --- | |
| 3710 then, 231-710 |
--- | 4-231.F.710 then, 1-231.C.410 |
PO Engine Works | --- | --- | |
| 3711 then, 231-711 |
--- | 4-231.F.711 then, 1-231.C.411 |
PO Engine Works | --- | --- | |
| 3712 then, 231-712 |
--- | 4-231.F.712 then, 1-231.C.412 |
PO Engine Works | --- | --- | |
| 3713 then, 231-713 |
--- | 4-231.F.713 then, 1-231.C.413 |
PO Engine Works | --- | --- | |
| 3714 then, 231-714 |
--- | 4-231.F.714 then, 1-231.C.414 |
PO Engine Works | --- | --- | |
| 3715 then, 231-715 |
--- | 4-231.F.715 then, 1-231.C.415 |
PO Engine Works | --- | --- | |
| 3716then, 231-716 |
--- | 4-231.F.716 then, 1-231.C.416 |
PO Engine Works | --- | --- | |
| 3717 then, 231-717 |
--- | 4-231.F.717 then, 1-231.C.417 |
PO Engine Works | --- | --- |
References[]
- GILLOT, Jean, Les locomotives à vapeur de la S.N.C.F. région Est, Éditions Picador, Levallois-Perret, 1976.