Etat 2-4-0 Locomotives in France

Class 2009 (Locobase 6053)

Data from Locomotives Schneider et Cie (Paris : Imp. Draeger, 1920), pp. 32-33, archived as CNAM-MUSEE TR0.5-SCH at []. See also I N Jevica's [] (visited 29 May 2004) and Maurice Demoulin, Traite Pratique de la Machine Locomotive (Paris: Libraire Polytechnique, Baudry et Cie, 1898), pp. 95-96; and "Old French Express Engine (French State Railways) with Piston Valves (System Ricour)", Locomotive Magazne, Volume 19 (15 September 1913), pp. 206-207. Builders included Five-Lille (60), Schneider (55 of its Type 95), and SACM (10).

These were more powerful additions to early set of four-coupled express locomotives delivered to the Vendee beginning in 1873 and taken into the Etat. LM's report claims that some had piston strokes of 600 mm.

Like so many French locomotives of the time, this racer had its steam dome positioned well forward, just behind the tall, flared stack. The rest of the layout followed French practice as well, although the drivers were taller.

Twenty of the class were converted to a 2-4-2 layout in 1894-1896. Some of the class were fitted with Ricour's piston valves as replacements for the slide valves that lifted off their seats when the engines drifted down grades with steam off and allowed smokebox ash into the cylinders. (LM's report notes that the engines' snifting valve "probably of itself produced all the effect desired" and that "a properly balanced slide valve was also a desideratum aimed at.")

The design was pretty simply equipped with ordinary split rings. Even so, they apparently did not permit water to enter the cylinders. "That no detrimental effect was caused ..." said LM, "was shown by the fact that the State railway systems fitted some 150 engines with these pistons valves between 1884 and 1894."