Steam Locomotive "Chapelon"
Class 231E SNCF
T
he first locomotives of this class
with 4-6-2 wheel arrangement (Pacific) appeared in 1909 and were built up to
1937.
In 1926 M. Chapelon devised a series of improvements to thermal efficiency,
which he applied to a first batch of locomotives of the PO Class 3500. This led
to a substantial increase in power compared to the original engines. The name "Chapelon"
or Super Pacific was given to these locomotives, as they became a familiar
sight running expresses in northern France. Among the improvements applied by
Chapelon were the fitting of valves to the Walschaert gear instead of sliding
drawers . The prototype was capable of reaching a maximum speed of 140 km/h, and
in running order the locomotive weighed 183 tonnes.
In September 1935 at Chantilly, one of these locomotives reached the remarkable
speed of 174 km/h down a gradient of 1 in 200. The model ref.no.1331 is in the
characteristic brown livery of the French Nord Railways, like the prototype,
preserved in the French Railway Museum of Mulhouse. This locomotive was tasked
at the time to pull one of the most beautiful trains in Europe, "The Flèche D
'Or " (The Golden Arrow), on the Paris-Calais route.
The models are equipped with
operating headlights. Length 29 cm
Produced by Rivarossi from 1967 until 1993
