Paris a Rouen 2-4-0 Locomotives in France

Class unknown (Locobase 11339)

Data from Alexandre Louis Deghilage, Origine de la Locomotive (Paris: Imprierie A Broise et Courtier, 1886), p. 37. See also "Old Locomotives, Western Ry of France", Locomotive Magazine XXII [22] (15 June 1916), p. 115

This design was an extension of all of the Buddicom-Allcard singles (Locobase 608) that spread across the French railway system beginning in 1843. For one thing, as Deghilage notes, the 120 layout was applied to freight engines with relatively small drivers. The two coupled axles were set ahead and behind the firebox in the frame. The dome stood right over the firebox and the smokebox sported a very tall stack.

Cylinders were angled downward and their rods traveled in a gap between the two frame plates. Slide valves sat on top of the cylinders and were actuated by rocker arms. Valve motion on many of the engines were gabs with a fixed cutoff. One modification included a short straight link with no expansion adjustment. The reversing lever, said the LM report, had but three positions: forward, intermediate, and reverse. Later updates fitted an expansion link motion.

The report says this class gave "many years of hard service" appearing to be little changed despite being "thoroughly overhauled several times."