Klmm 1.21 / Klmms 2.21 | TrainsDepot.org

Klmm 1²¹ / Klmms 2²¹

Also known as: NNTouw / Jho / Us / OCEM 19 & 29

UIC / EVN numbering: 21 87 316 0 / 21 87 346 1 / 40 87 952 1

Vehicle type: flat wagon

Registration country: France

Railway companies: État - Administration des chemins de fer de l'État PO-Midi - Chemins de fer de Paris à Orléans et du Midi PLM - Compagnie des chemins de fer de Paris à Lyon et à la Méditerranée SNCF - Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer français

Hide technical details

Vehicle's history

Add content

Report an error?

1919

The OCEM 19 and OCEM 29 were standardised two-axle flat freight wagons developed by the Office Central d’Étude du Matériel de chemin de fer (OCEM) as part of the rationalisation of French railway rolling stock that began after the First World War. The first design appeared in 1919 and was based on a 20-tonne wagon chassis with a 3,75 m wheelbase. The OCEM 19 was produced in two main versions:
Type A: with three opening side panels on each side;
Type B: with two fixed panels and a single movable panel.

A total of 2'870 OCEM 19 flat wagons were built for the État, Paris-Orléans (PO) and PLM networks.

The wagons featured a robust riveted steel chassis, nine-leaf suspension springs and a loading floor made from 45 mm thick oak planks. Their approximately 500 mm high folding sides made them particularly versatile, allowing the transport of vehicles, construction materials, barrels, containers and many other types of goods. The side panels folded outward, while the end panels folded inward onto the loading platform. Loads could also be protected by tarpaulins secured to rings fitted around the wagon.

Braking equipment differed between early OCEM 19 wagons. Some were constructed without continuous brakes and relied on hand-operated braking systems, while others received continuous braking from the outset. Following the widespread adoption of air brakes on French freight stock after 1926, many existing wagons were subsequently equipped with Westinghouse air brakes.

1929

The design was modernised in 1929 with the introduction of the OCEM 29. While retaining the general appearance and construction principles of the OCEM 19 Type A, the new wagon had a longer 4,50 m wheelbase and a loading length of approximately 8,1 m, compared with about 7,4 m for the OCEM 19. Westinghouse continuous air braking was fitted as standard.

A total of 2'250 OCEM 29 flat wagons were produced, including 750 for the Midi and 1'500 for the PLM.

After the creation of the SNCF in 1938, both types were incorporated into its freight fleet and subsequently received new classifications and numbers. Many remained in service long enough to receive UIC numbering during the 1960s.

Withdrawals began in the early 1960s and accelerated from around 1965, although numerous wagons subsequently found a second life in departmental and infrastructure service. The last OCEM 19 and OCEM 29 wagons disappeared from regular commercial SNCF service between 1971 and 1974, ending more than half a century of service for these characteristic examples of French standardised freight rolling stock.

Do you have additional informations regarding this vehicle?

Help us writing the history of Klmm 1²¹ / Klmms 2²¹! Your knowledge is precious for us and the entire community, do not hesitate to share your facts, photos or videos:

Add new timeline entry

Add photos

Add videos