CF de Vicinaux du Jura 0-6-0 Locomotives in France

Class 11 (Locobase 6208)

Data from [] (10 July 2004).

This little railway ran in the Jura mountains on a challenging grade, but through several towns at grade. For that reason, the locomotives first chosen for the line were "bicabines" that had controls at each end of the machine for easy operation in either direction. The author notes that these were not strictly bicabine, but simply a locomotive with a sheltering cover from one end of the machine to the other. Once the crews encountered snowy and cold conditions in their first year of operation, windshields were added at both ends.

Unfortunately, says the author of the account at the CFV website, the purchasers bought locomotives that were not powerful enough for the railway. He supposes that the board didn't anticipate much success on the line because the engine could pull only 50 tons up the more challenging 4% grades of the Revigny mountains. Nevertheless, the initial response to more traffic was to buy two more of the same type in 1900.

The locomotives broke down frequently because of the demands placed on them, a principal disablement being broken axles. Help was on the way -- See Locobase 6209 -- but it wouldn't solve the fundamental problem. The line struggled on with these little engines until the mid-1940s, when autobus competition and diesel locomotives led to the last retirements in 1948.

Class 320-323 (Locobase 6209)

Data from [] (10 July 2004). See Locobase 6208 for the story of the preceding class of tram engines. This current class was bought from a Foncine-le-Haut-Clarivaux line to relieve the demands a fast-growing service placed on the 11 class.

These were true bicabines; that is, the stoker up front and the driver in the rear had separate, roofed enclosures. Although a little bigger with a more capacious boiler, these locomotives were in fact a little less powerful than the earlier locomotives. Moreover, says the author in unbelieving tones, the class was introduced into full service at once. Not only did this not spread out the burden among a larger fleet, but it quickly exposed weaknesses in driving-wheel constrcution. The firetubes also proved sensitive to vibration.

But you work with what you have. Even though some of the machines had been mothballed in the 30s, the war years' rationing of fuel meant that coal-burners were once again competitive and three of the four of this class went back into service. After World War II, however, there was little time left to the class, all of which were retired in 1948.