Pacifics In France

Just as some of the most important passenger trains in Britain were the boat trains such as the ' Golden Arrow,' connecting London to the Channel ports, so also were the equivalent services on the continent of Europe.

Amongst them were the heavy expresses between Paris and Le Havre and Cherbourg, where the biggest ocean liners called en route for America.

Before nationalization this northwest corner of France was served by the French State Railway, and for many years the passenger workings were in the hands of old 4-cylinder compound Pacifies dating back to 1914.

After M. Chapelon had successfully rebuilt a number of Paris-Orleans Railway Pacifics, it was decided that a similar program of rebuilding should be carried out on the State railway, and commencing in 1933 a total of 270 Pacifics were given a new lease of life by rebuilding.

First of all 128 engines were given larger superheaters and the low-pressure cylinders fitted with Dabeg poppet valves; these became Class ' D.' Six engines were fitted with Renaud valves and twenty-three with Willoteaux valve gear, becoming Classes ' E ' and ' F ' respectively, and in 1935 a further thirty-one engines were completely rebuilt with Dabeg valves on all four cylinders, new double blast pipes and chimneys, and other modifications, becoming Class ' G.' Class ' H ' consisted of eighty-two of the original engines but with new cylinders and draught arrangements.

Seldom has any rebuilding program been so successful and for several years almost all Western Region passenger trains were worked by these rebuilt Pacifics.

The picture on this page shows Nos. D.410 and  G.638 shortly before leaving Paris.