#1677

État 231-501 to 231-783

🇫🇷 France ·built by Fives Group· from 1914· compound 4-6-2 locomotives of the Chemins der fer de l'État

10 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences

1. 231-G-558 Dieppe: Didier Duforest· CC BY-SA 3.0
2. Pacific 231G 558 -photo -2: Roloff· Public domain
3. Etat 231D ? (8131492986): Hugh Llewelyn· CC BY-SA 2.0
4. État 231 761: Unknown author Unknown author· Public domain
5. 231 K 8 et 231 G 558 (fête du rail 2019): BB 22385· CC BY-SA 4.0
6. 231-G-558 Conches en Ouche: Didier Duforest· CC BY-SA 4.0
7. 231-G-558 Conches-en-Ouche: Didier Duforest· CC BY-SA 4.0
8. 231-G-558 Dieppe-a: Didier Duforest· CC BY-SA 4.0
9. 231-G-558 Dieppe-Maritime-a: Didier Duforest· CC BY-SA 4.0
10. 231-G-558 Dieppe-Maritime: Didier Duforest· CC BY-SA 3.0

what is it?

État 231-500 to 231-783 was a series of 4-6-2 steam locomotives of the Chemin de fer de l'État ("the État"). 289 engines of this series were built starting in 1914, with deliveries from 1916 through 1923. They replaced and supplemented the 231 B that had a tendency to derail.

who runs it

Chemins de fer de l'État Société nationale des chemins de fer français Chemins de fer du Nord

base stats

speed 130 km/htop speed
weight 152 tin working order
built 289made in total

Bars compare against all trains: 600 km/h (maglev), 1,700 seats; power, weight and number built on a log scale up to 20 MW, 1,000 t and 20,000 built.

fun facts

First built 112 years ago, in 1914.
Weighs about as much as 25 African elephants (~6 t each).
13.7 m long: about 3 cars parked nose to tail.
Served for 52 years (1914–1966).

steam locomotive: Burns coal, wood or oil to boil water; the steam drives pistons that turn the wheels.

spec sheet

built: 1914–1921
in service from: 1914
retired: 1966
status: preserved
number built: 289
kind: Steam
traction: steam
origin: 🇫🇷 France
builders: Fives Group, Société de Construction des Batignolles, North British Locomotive Company, Schneider et Cie, Batignolles-Châtillon
operators: Chemins de fer de l'État, Société nationale des chemins de fer français, Chemins de fer du Nord
top speed: 130 km/h
power: —
gauge: 1,435 mm standard gauge
wheel arrangement: 4-6-2
length: 13.7 m
weight: 152 t

From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.

Sources: Wikidata Q2815064, Wikipedia: État 231-501 to 231-783 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.