Steam locomotive 141R 420 with coal tender, Era V.

The 141 R were ordered by France from the United States in 1,340 units, which were divided into two subseries (141R 1 to 700 and 701 to 1340) with coal or fuel heating to compensate for the severe shortage of locomotives at the end of World War II. They were delivered starting in November 1945 in 1,323 units (17 machines and their tenders were lost when the cargo ship transporting them sank) and were highly regarded by SNCF engineers for their robustness and high operating comfort for the time. In all regions of the SNCF, these machines were in service until 1974 in mixed passenger and freight traffic. Their retirement coincided with the complete disappearance of steam traction in commercial service of the SNCF.