Steam locomotives - France: books - per series

Chapelon

The name Andre Chapelon will be known to everyone with an interest in the development of the steam locomotive. Put simply he was a genius, head and shoulders above all others in the field of steam locomotive design.
This is not to belittle the skills and capabilities of men like Churchward, Stanier, Gresley and Bulleid. Indeed the latter acknowledged the influence of Chapelon on his work.

In his native France, Chapelon transformed the steam locomotives of various French railways from often mediocre machines into high performers surpassing the capabilities of similar machines used in other European countries at the time. He was responsible for both rebuilds as well as new designs.
His work was disrupted by World War II, but his importance was reasserted in 1946 with his superb 4-8-4 No 242 A 1 capable of producing a continuous output of 5,500hp, a remarkable achievement.

Colonel Roger's book on Andre Chapelon, originally published in 1972, has been difficult to obtain for many years. It remains the best and most detailed biography of the man and his work. It is both a readable and accessible guide to the life and achievements of a man whom few would disagree was the foremost steam locomotive engineer the world has ever seen.

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Les 'Mikado' Etat

This book traces the life and career of the 250 Mikado État locomotives, starting from the P.O. 5801/2 prototypes. After an in-depth technical study, abundantly illustrated with photos, drawings, curves, etc. concerning not only the series, but also the transformed machines, the author describes the career at the SNCF of each machine from 1938 to its decommissioning: depots, maintenance workshops, mileage, etc.

A chapter is devoted to the last survivor, the 141 C 100, examined in minute detail throughout its career. The 12 Mikado built for Morocco are not forgotten and an appendix is devoted to the model reproduction of this important series.
Finally, these locomotives are placed in their context thanks to appendices dealing briefly with all the western depots and their closure to steam, giving the complete list of all types of Mikado State by depot. A small glossary completes this set.
An essential book for all those interested in the great series of French steam locomotives.

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Les Mikado du PLM

In 1914, the PLM put into service "Mikado" locomotives to provide 1300-tonne freight trains as well as courier convoys at a speed of 90 km/h...
A second batch, built in the USA because of the war, was delivered between 1917 and 1919. Finally, from 1921 to 1932, 680 other locomotives were built and distributed in the company's large depots.
Modified and modernized, they earned their letters of nobility by becoming the 141 E and F at the SNCF, while inspiring the 141 P series. The last ones would not disappear until 1969.

This richly illustrated book retraces the history, construction and operation of these famous steam locomotives.

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Les 140 - Les consolidations françaises

The Consolidation locomotives, often overlooked despite their importance, are highlighted in an illustrated book on French locomotives. Designed as multi-purpose type 140 machines, suitable for mixed passenger and freight services, they were widely deployed on all French railway networks.
Appearing in 1901 at the Compagnie du Midi, these locomotives quickly conquered other networks such as the East, the PO, the West, the PLM, the North and the State.

Bernard Collardey, a specialist in French power units, explores the eventful history of these locomotives in a 312-page book. Richly illustrated in black and white and in color, including diagrams and numerous summary tables, the book offers an in-depth analysis of these servants of the railway.

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Les 141 TB, ces locomotives en or

Locomotives without a history, transporting generations of suburbanites, condemned twice by electrification, some survived at the time on secondary railways to pull freight trains...
Preserved, the 141 TB locomotives still arouse interest, even among the youngest who did not know the era of steam. We will thus recall the existence of this series by this modest contribution of texts, photos, tables and documents, most of them unpublished.

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Les Chapelon du dépôt de Calais

Chapelon... A name that shines on the roll of honour of steam locomotives. These machines, the most famous in France, are the result of the transformation of Pacific-type locomotives that belonged to the Paris-Orléans company (P.O.).
For the Compagnie du chemin de fer du Nord and the Calais depot, they were the undisputed stars of the glorious era of steam, from the immediate post-war period to the end of the 1960s.

The Chapelons or the quintessence of steam thanks to their performance: speed, resistance, reliability, coal savings, aesthetics, prestige... The flagship of the Calais depot (now defunct), a true national pride, these powerful locomotives pulled the famous luxury train La Flèche d'Or, made up of Pullman cars.
At the depot, each machine in this prestigious series was assigned to a single team: the mechanic and the driver, designated as permanent employees. This book is also a tribute to these "lords of the rail" who served them valiantly and for whom being a permanent employee at the P.O." was the culmination of a rolling career...

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Les machines-tenders de route et de manoeuvres régionales

In this book, the author traces the lives and careers of legendary machines: regional tender locomotives, dealing in a particularly exhaustive manner with road and shunting tender machines.
The author provides a general overview and begins with a summary description of the various series, their typologies and characteristics on each of the major French networks. He traces their early years from their origin to the birth of the SNCF.

The tender locomotives acquired by the former companies primarily provided passenger services, but various categories were also put into service for mixed traffic on rough lines. Others were reserved for freight traffic only, not forgetting those that distinguished themselves by hauling express trains in various regions.

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