FRENCH COMPOUND LOCOMOTIVES'
HOMEPAGE
Audio files
- Chapelon's PACIFIC, 70 mph. The recorded machine is 231 E 48, spring
1959, Calais to Paris train No. 84 at Caffiers (long
gradient of the Paris-Calais line). Note
the quiet exhaust note, proof of the proper expansion of
steam in the engine, and thus of its efficiency.
About it, may be you'll like to read a part of a mail
received from an American steam enthusiast and also
mechanic engineer having experienced trips in trains
hauled by those. So:
- Testimony received
from one of the first visitors of the site, Mr.
Dave Stephenson:
...I didn't mention
this before, but there is another very good
reason for my strong interest in your project. I
was very fortunate to ride behind 231E4 from
Paris to Brussels in July 6, 1959, and witness
the phenominal acceleration these Pacifics had.
Our train had about 15 cars.We slowed to about 40
kph to pass a track maintenance crew, then
without any apparent effort, raced back to 125
kph in no time at all. I could hardly hear the
exhaust, even though the engine must have been
exerting full power, and I was standing in the
door of the first car. What a ride!! It ensured
my life-long interest in French steam
locomotives. Thanks again, Dave this mail, for
your support and help...
- S.N.C.F. Pacific 2 - 231 E 46 MP3 631k
- S.N.C.F. Pacific 2 - 231
E 26 MP3 427k
- S.N.C.F. Pacific 2 - 231
E 41 featuring a steam leak on a piston
rod; MP3 938k
To keep on with this sort of souvenirs, I add
that mine are exactly the same concerning the
blazing accelerations - I pilot regularly sport
bikes since the begining of the seventies and
know what are accelerations are - and also about
the extreme silence of the compound Chapelon
fitted with KylChaps, having the luck to have
traveled in trains hauled by "true
Chapelon-like" of the Réseau de l'Etat
quite frequently between 1955 and 1966 when they
were withdrawn. Also, I lived close from a depot
housing more than 50 of them!...
- S.N.C.F.'s 5 - 241 P 7, 4 8 2 @ 140 kmh
(87 mph) MP3 259k
- S.N.C.F.'s 5 - 241 P 8 starting with an
heavy fast freight train MP3 1475k
More audio records will be
added!
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