Réseau Breton 4-6-0 tank locomotives

The Réseau Breton 4-6-0 tank locomotives were a class of metre gauge locomotives. The twelve class members were built in two batches by Franco-Belge and Fives-Lille for the Réseau Breton (RB) in France. Introduced in 1904, they were to be found all over the Réseau Breton system, lasting in traffic until the closure of the metre gauge lines in 1967.

Réseau Breton 4-6-0 tank locomotives
E 332 as preserved.
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderSociété Franco-Belge de Matériel de Chemins de Fer (Franco-Belge)
Compagnie de Fives-Lille pour constructions mécaniques et entreprises
Build date1904 (Franco-Belge)
1909 (Fives-Lille)
Total produced12
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte4-6-0
 • UIC2′C n2t
Gauge1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in)
Leading dia.730 mm (2 ft 5 in)
Driver dia.1,230 mm (4 ft 0 in)
Length9.45 m (31 ft 0 in)
Width2.69 m (8 ft 10 in)
Height3.60 m (11 ft 10 in)
Axle load10.5 t (10.3 long tons)
Loco weight33.5 t (33.0 long tons) (empty)
44.5 t (43.8 long tons) (working order)
Fuel typeCoal
Boiler pressure12 bar (170 psi)
Heating surface:
 • Tubes		79 m2 (850 sq ft)
 • Firebox1 m2 (11 sq ft)
Cylinders2
Cylinder size400 mm × 460 mm (16 in × 18 in)
Performance figures
Maximum speed55 km/h (34 mph)
Career
OperatorsRéseau Breton
Number in class12
NumbersE 321–E 332
Last run1967
Withdrawn1967
Preserved2
Current ownerFédération de Amis des Chemins de Fer Secondaires (1)
Chemin de Fer de la Baie de Somme (1)

Background

The Réseau Breton originally employed a number of 2-6-0T locomotives and also a number of 0-6-6-0T Mallet locomotives. The 4-6-0T locomotives were intended to combine the lightness of the 2-6-0Ts with the power of the Mallets. The locomotives were built to operate on the Loudéac to La Brohinière and Carhaix to Châteaulin lines.[1]

Locomotives

Franco-Belge locomotives

Société Franco-Belge of Raismes built the initial batch of five locomotives. They were numbered E 321–E 325 on the Réseau Breton. The locomotives carried works numbers 1443–1447 respectively.[1]

Fives-Lille locomotives

As the initial design was a success, a further seven locomotives were built by Compagnie de Fives-Lille pour constructions mécaniques et entreprises at Fives (Lille). These locomotives were numbered E 326–E 332 on the Réseau Breton. They carried works numbers 3581–3587[2] respectively.

History

The locomotives were utilised across the whole of the Réseau Breton system. They were capable of hauling trains of 230 tonnes (226 long tons) at 55 kilometres per hour (34 mph) on the flat. Some of the locomotives lasted in service on the Réseau Breton until the closure of the metre gauge lines in 1967.[1]

Specifications

The locomotives were 9.45 metres (31 ft 0 in) long, with a width of 2.69 m (8 ft 10 in) and a height of 3.60 m (11 ft 10 in).[1] They were non-superheated locomotives,[3] with two cylinders of 400 mm (16 in) diameter by 460 mm (18 in) stroke. The firebox grate had an area of 1 square metre (11 sq ft),[1] with a total heating area of 79 m2 (850 sq ft)[3] Weight was 33.5 t (33.0 long tons) empty, 44.5 t (43.8 long tons) in working order.[1]

Preservation
E 327 on the Chemins de Fer de Provence, August 2006

Two locomotives have been preserved.

E 327

E 327 was saved by Fédération de Amis des Chemins de Fer Secondaires (FACS). It was originally preserved on the Chemin de fer du Vivarais (CFV), but was too heavy for that line, which had an axle limit of 8 tonnes (7.9 long tons). In 1979, the locomotive was transferred to the Chemins de Fer de Provence (CP), where it is based at Annot.[1]

E 332

E 332 was initially preserved on the Blonay–Chamby Museum Railway (BC) in Switzerland, where it spent a period on static display. In 2009, it was moved to the Chemin de Fer de la Baie de Somme (CFBS) and has since been restored to working order.[1]

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References
  1. "Réseau Breton 230T". Continental Modeller. No. September 2010. Peco Publications. 2010. pp. 560–564.
  2. Reinhard Scholz: Eine französiche Schmalspurlokomotive in der Schweiz in: Eisenbahn Amateur (Zeitschrift) Nr. 7, 1969, Seiten 260+261
  3. "Réseau Breton steam locomotives". JDH Smith. Retrieved 29 August 2010.
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