Source: commons.wikimedia.org
Source: commons.wikimedia.org
Source: commons.wikimedia.org
Source: commons.wikimedia.org
Source: maurizio messa
1925
Initial trials, however, revealed insufficient performance. With its boiler originally operating at 16 bar, the locomotive developed only around 1'144 hp at 100 km/h. A first series of modifications, including an increase in boiler pressure to 17 bar and changes to the low-pressure cylinders, raised its output to approximately 1'870 hp.
Comparative trials conducted in October 1928 with Pacific 3.1214 of the Compagnie des chemins de fer du Nord highlighted two major shortcomings: restricted steam flow through the compound engine and insufficient boiler steaming capacity. The prototype consequently underwent extensive refinement. Its Nord-type cone exhaust was replaced by a PLM three-jet cloverleaf exhaust, the diameter of the low-pressure cylinders was increased, steam passages and piping were improved, and the driving rods were strengthened.
1930
The Compagnie des chemins de fer de l'Est orders 40 units of this type registered as Série 13 241-002 to 241-041.
The Compagnie des chemins de fer de l'État orders 49 units of this type registered 241-001 to 241-049.
Sources: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/241_Est_241002_à_241041_et_241_État_241-001_à_241-049
1938
The 49 former État Mountain locomotives 241-001 to 241-049 were incorporated into the new SNCF Western Region. From 1 March 1939, they were renumbered:
État 241-001 to 241-049 SNCF 3-241.A.001 to 3-241.A.049
However, the entire class did not remain in the Western Region. In spring 1938, ten locomotives based at Le Mans were considered surplus to requirements and transferred to the SNCF Eastern Region. All ten were allocated to Chaumont and incorporated into the Eastern Region’s existing 241 A numbering sequence, becoming: 1-241.A.42 to 1-241.A.51.
The remaining former État locomotives stayed in the Western Region, principally allocated between the Rennes, Laval and Le Mans sheds.
During the Second World War, several locomotives temporarily disappeared from the Western fleet. On 1 October 1942, 3-241.A.001, 3-241.A.019 and 3-241.A.022 were taken to Germany. 3-241.A.015 followed on 4 October, while 3-241.A.021 and 3-241.A.027 were also sent to Germany around the same period.
To compensate for these losses, the Eastern Region temporarily supplied the Western Region with 1-241.A.125, 1-241.A.131 and 1-241.A.137. These were themselves former État locomotives which had previously been transferred to the Eastern Region in 1938. They were allocated to Trappes, with periods of service at Rennes and Laval, before being returned to the Eastern Region between May and August 1943.
The locomotives taken to Germany survived the war and were progressively returned to France between 12 September 1945 and 1946. The Western Region therefore recovered its fleet, although several locomotives required repairs following wartime service and damage.
The definitive concentration of the class in the Eastern Region began after the war. The arrival of the more modern 141 P and 141 R locomotives made the Mountains increasingly redundant in the Western Region, and SNCF decided to transfer the entire remaining fleet eastwards.
Between October 1946 and March 1947, a first group of fourteen Western locomotives was transferred to Chaumont and Bar-le-Duc: 3-241.A.001, 009, 010, 011, 017, 019, 021, 022, 028, 030, 035, 036, 038 and 039.
A second major transfer began in February 1948, involving fifteen locomotives previously allocated to Rennes, Laval and Le Mans. They were sent to Paris-La Villette, Chaumont and Strasbourg: 3-241.A.002, 003, 004, 005, 006, 007, 012, 013, 014, 015, 016, 023, 026, 027 and 034.
In October 1948, another ten locomotives were transferred to the Eastern Region and allocated to Strasbourg: 3-241.A.040 to 3-241.A.049.
Finally, on 10 April 1949, 3-241.A.041, then based at Laval, became the last 3-241.A to leave the Western Region for the Eastern Region.
Sources: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/241_Est_241002_à_241041_et_241_État_241-001_à_241-049, https://locomotive.fandom.com/wiki/ÉTAT_241-001_to_049
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Latest update on the 19th of August 2026 at 23:12
Contributor(s): Tudor C.
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Class 241 A - Associated miniature models:
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