The PO 3801 to 3806 and 3821 to 3829 (later SNCF 4-231.G.801 to 806 and 821 to 829 then 4-231.J.801 to 806 and 821 to 829) is a class of 4-6-2 Pacific type locomotive for passenger trains and express for the Chemin de fer du Paris-Orléans. These engines were the end result of the reconstruction of 15 engines from the class 3500.
History[]
During the late 1920s, the Pacific engines of the PO railway began to struggle ahead of passenger trains. The company which wasn't as rich as other railways, could not afford the luxury of new locomotives. The railway had already a tradition to rebuild its engines to accomadate of the new situation It faced, nd had proceeded to modernization of class of engines like the class 3200. In 1929, the engineer André Chapelon, proceeded to the reconstruction of no. 3566 from the class 3500. The engine became the most porwefull French Pacific, and the PO rebuilt 31 other Pacific forming the class 3700. However the reconstruction began to be very expensive. For the last 14 engines weating to be rebuilt, the PO decided to procced to a reconstruction less push, then for the 3700s.
PO 3801 to 3806 and 3821 to 3829 then P.O-MIDI 231-801 to 806 and 821 to 829[]
In 1932, no. 3524, was the first engine to be rebuild in the company Locomotive Workshops at Tour, followed the 13 other member. The 14 modified engines formed the class 3800 and received the numbers 3801 to 3806 and 3821 to 3829. Shortly after, in 1933, they received new bogie tenders coming from the American Pacifics from the class 3591 to 3640.
The 3800s were first allocated at the depot of Limoges, at the advent of summer service. They pulled Express passenger and goods trains, alongside the engines of the class 4500. They've allowed to increase the trains' speed on the Vierzon-Toulouse line. In 1934, with the creation of the amagalmation of the PO and the Midi railway, the 3800s, were renumbered as 231-801 to 806 and 821 to 829 and moved to the depot of Bordeaux-St Jean, where they provided without faillures pulling trains on the Toulouse-Tours line, and on the Bordeaux-Toulouse, and Bordeaux-Vichy radials.
SNCF 4-231.G.801 to 806 and 821 to 829, then 4-231.J.801 to 806 and 821 to 829[]
In 1938, at the creation of the SNCF, the former 3800s were incorporated into the Southwestern region roster and recived the numbers 4-231.G.801 to 806 and 821 to 829. The class crossed World War II without any loss. Between 1954 and 1955, the Southwestern region saw the arrival of former PLM Pacifics of the class 231.G, but as this letter already belonged to the ex-3800s, and to avoid confusing engines from both classes, the ex-3800s would received the letter "J", becoming nos. 4-231.J.801 to 806 and 821 to 829. The arrival of the ex-PLM 231.Gs marked the beggining of the end for the 4-231.Js. Betweenn 1955 and 1958, they were withdrawn from service gradually. The last remainning engine of the class, no. 4-231.J.829, was removed on October 1958 at Bordeaux-St Jean. None of these engines had survive.
Stock List[]
Gallery[]
Sources[]
Books and magazines:
- COMBE, Jean marc, MIRVILLE, Philippe (1981), La Grande famille des "Pacific PLM", Rail Magazine, no. 54, 33-36.
Web sites:
- WikiPO: 231 n° 3 801 à 3 806 et 3 821 à 3 829 du PO: https://wikipo.railsdautrefois.fr/wikiPO/index.php/231_n%C2%B0_3_801_%C3%A0_3_806_et_3_821_%C3%A0_3_829_du_PO