PLM 241.C.1

what is it?

PLM 241.C.1 was a French four-cylinder 4-8-2 (Mountain) compound steam locomotive, built as a prototype for the Chemins de fer de Paris à Lyon et à la Méditerranée. The firm of Schneider et Cie took charge of the construction of the locomotive in 1930. It was based on the earlier PLM 241.A, but with several modifications to increase the design speed from 110 to 120 kilometres per hour (68 to 75 mph): The diameter of the driving wheels was increased from 1,790 to 2,000 mm (5 ft 10+1⁄2 in to 6 ft 6+3⁄4 in); The crankshaft was modified, and the connecting rods were now attached to the second and third pairs of driving wheels whereas on the 241.A they were attached to the first and second; this necessitated the inside high pressure cylinders be located between the first and second driving axles; In addition the steam dome was moved forward to be just behind the chimney.

who runs it

Société nationale des chemins de fer françaisCompagnie des chemins de fer de Paris à Lyon et à la Méditerranée

base stats

• weight 113 tin working order
• built 1made 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 96 years ago, in 1930.
• 🐘Weighs about as much as 19 African elephants (~6 t each).
• 📏17.1 m long: about 4 cars parked nose to tail.
• ⌛Served for 30 years (1930–1960).

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

spec sheet

built

1930

in service from

1930

retired

1960

status

retired

number built

1

kind

Steam

traction

steam

origin

🇫🇷 France

builders

Schneider et Cie

operators

Société nationale des chemins de fer français, Compagnie des chemins de fer de Paris à Lyon et à la Méditerranée

top speed

—

power

—

wheel arrangement

4-8-2

length

17.1 m

weight

113 t

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