État 3701 to 3755

Description

The class were four-cylinder compound locomotives of the de Glenn type – the high-pressure cylinders were on the outside and drove the middle coupled wheels, the low-pressure cylinders were inside, and drove the leading coupled wheels.

They were mixed traffic locomotives, for use on express and local passenger trains as well as freight trains on all parts of the État network. The design was inspired by, and similar to Midi 1301 to 1370, Nord 3.078 to 3.354, and PO 1721 to 1735.

They were equipped with 3-axle tenders that held 6 tonnes (5.9 long tons; 6.6 short tons) of coal and 15,200 litres (3,300 imp gal; 4,000 US gal) of water, and were numbered 15.251 to 15.305.

The first 30 had Wegner brakes, the remainder had Westinghouse brakes.

They were capable of pulling hauling passenger trains of 225 to 250 tonnes (221 to 246 long tons; 248 to 276 short tons) at 90 kilometres per hour (56 mph), passenger trains of 350 to 400 tonnes (340 to 390 long tons; 390 to 440 short tons) at 70 kilometres per hour (43 mph), and freight trains 700 tonnes (690 long tons; 770 short tons) at speeds of 40 to 50 kilometres per hour (25 to 31 mph). On inclines of 1% (1 in 100), they could pull 160 tonnes (160 long tons; 180 short tons) at 95 kilometres per hour (59 mph).

Use

They were used thought the État network, and proved to be more economical than the 4-4-0 and 2-4-2 locomotive that they displaced. They were allocated to the locomotive depots of Nantes Sainte-Anne, La Roche-sur-Yon, La Rochelle, Saintes, Saint-Mariens, Cholet, Thouars, and Bressuire.

After 1938, the newly created SNCF renumbered the locomotives 3-230.B.1 to 3-230.B.55; while the tenders were renumbered 15.B.251 to 15.B.305. Forty-six survived World War II, the last was withdrawn in 1960, having been used on Saint-Mariens to Bordeaux local services.

None have been preserved, but the Cité du train in Mulhouse has one of the similar Midi, locomotives, No. 1314.