PLM 241.C.1

PLM 241.C.1 was a French four-cylinder 4-8-2 (Mountain) compound steam locomotive, built as a prototype for the Chemins de fer de Paris à Lyon et à la Méditerranée.

PLM 241.C
The 241.C.1 in 1932.
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderSchneider et Cie
Serial number4530
Build dateDecember 1930
Total produced1
Specifications
Configuration:
  Whyte4-8-2
  UIC2′D1′ h4v
Leading dia.1,000 mm (3 ft 3 38 in)
Driver dia.2,000 mm (6 ft 6 34 in)
Trailing dia.1,360 mm (4 ft 5 12 in)
LengthLoco: 17,100 mm (56 ft 1 14 in)
Loco weight
  • Empty: 113.4 tonnes (111.6 long tons; 125.0 short tons)
  • Loaded: 126.6 tonnes (124.6 long tons; 139.6 short tons)
Fuel typeCoal
Firebox:
  Firegrate area
5.06 m2 (54.5 sq ft)
Boiler pressure20 kg/cm2 (1.96 MPa; 284 psi)
Heating surface248 m2 (2,670 sq ft)
Superheater:
  Type33-element
  Heating area90.9 m2 (978 sq ft)
CylindersFour, compound: high pressure inside, low pressure outside
High-pressure cylinder450 mm × 650 mm (17 1116 in × 25 916 in)
Low-pressure cylinder680 mm × 700 mm (26 34 in × 27 916 in)
Performance figures
Maximum speed120 km/h (75 mph)
Career
Operators
Numbers241.C.1
Retired1960
Scrapped1962
The 241.C.1 in 1925.

The firm of Schneider et Cie took charge of the construction of the locomotive in 1930.

It was based on the earlier PLM 241.A, but with several modifications to increase the design speed from 110 to 120 kilometres per hour (68 to 75 mph):

  • The diameter of the driving wheels was increased from 1,790 to 2,000 mm (5 ft 10 12 in to 6 ft 6 34 in);
  • The crankshaft was modified, and the connecting rods were now attached to the second and third pairs of driving wheels whereas on the 241.A they were attached to the first and second; this necessitated the inside high pressure cylinders be located between the first and second driving axles;

In addition the steam dome was moved forward to be just behind the chimney.

In 1932, the single PLM trefle exhaust was replaced by a double cross-type. A standard smokebox door replaced the paraboloid-shaped original and smoke deflectors were added at the same time.

The locomotive passed to the SNCF in 1938, who renumbered it 5-241.C.1.

It was retired in 1960, and scrapped two years later, having outlasted the other PLM mountains by a decade; despite it being the only member of its type, although it did form the basis of the SNCF 241.P. Some of its features were integrated into the fifty 241.D and the one 241.E rebuilds of the PLM 241.A locomotives.

Models

The PLM 241.C.1 has been reproduced in HO scale by:

  • La Maison des trains – metal body often mounted on a commercial chassis from Jouef, Fleischmann or Märklin;
  • Jouef Club in 1991 – limited edition;
  • Loco-diffusion – as a brass kit.

References

    • Davies, John (1996). Chemins de fer P. L. M. and Constituents Locomotive List 1829–1938. Sunnybank, Queensland: Dr. John Davies. p. 253. ISBN 0-646-15102-9.
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