This beautiful locomotive, designed under the direction
of Marc de Caso, and completed by Corpet-Louvet in 1949, was the result
of a reassessment of the performance of 4-6-4 locomotives made after WW
II by the Companie de NORD. Prior to the war, it was planned to
built eight streamlined locomotives to haul light weight trains at high
speeds. This batch was planned to consist of four compounds (Class
232S), three simples (Class 232R) and one turbine. The first seven
locomotives were completed during the 1939/1940 time period but the
turbine was never finished.
During the
war, they were used to haul slow trains despite the original plan to use
them only for high speed service. After the war ended, the turbine design was changed to an improved
version of the Atlantic type compound locomotives using a bar
frame. It was designated the 232 U1 and featured four sets of
piston valves driven by outside mounted Walschaert valve gear, roller
bearings on the axles, simplified controls and a mechanical stoker to
name just a few of the advanced characteristics.
Despite the fact that the the 232 U1 proved to be an outstanding design
and fully lived up to her designer's expectations, no further orders
were placed since the SNCF was focusing on electrification. Thus,
only one example of this outstanding design was in service which worked
the main line between Paris and Lille together with her seven sisters
from the classes 232S and 232R. Today the 232 U1 is preserved at
the National Museum at Mulhouse.
Note: "Hudson" versus "Baltic"
The world's first 232 or 4-6-4 tender locomotives were built for the
NORD in 1911. They became know as "Baltics" because they
were designed for the express train from Paris which eventually reached
the shores of the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. All European
4-6-4s, tender or tank locomotives, are know as "Baltics."
The name "Hudson" is American and came from the New York
Central 4-6-4s which in 1927 first serviced the water level route along
the Hudson River.
Specifications for the SNCF Class 232 U1
4-6-4
Scale/Gauge: 1/32, Gauge One (45 mm)
Total Weight: 8.2 kg (18.07 lbs)
(Engine 5.8 kg (12.78 lbs). + Tender 2.4 kg (
5.29 lbs)
Dimensions
Length: O.B. 803.0 mm (31.61 inches)
(Engine 492.5 mm (19.39 inches) + Tender 305.5 mm
(12 inches)
Width: Engine 94 mm, Tender 94 mm (3.7 inches)
Height: Engine 134 mm (5.27 inches), Tender
129 mm (5.07 inches)
Wheel Arrangement: 4-6-4 Atlantic (231)
All wheels made of stainless steel and insulated
both sides. Equalized and leaf spring action.
Driving Wheels: Dia. 62 mm
Pilot Truck wheels: Dia. 29 mm
Trailer Truck Wheels: Dia. 29 mm
Engine:
Cylinders: 2 x H.P. cylinders, bore 10 mm x
stroke 20 mm
2 x L.P. cylinders, bore 13 mm x stroke 20 mm
Drain Cocks: Fitted on the LP Cylinders, an
operation rod fitting.
Valve Gears: Walschaert’s Valve Gear
Steam Port 1.5 mm, cut off 80.2%
Lap 1.2 mm, Travel, 5.4 mm
Boiler:
Type: Locomotive Type for either coal or
alcohol burning
Water Capacity: 250 cc at 80% full
Pressure: 4 kg/cm2 at normal working
Fittings:
2 x safety valves, 2 x super
heater tubes, pressure gauge, water guage, blow-down valve throttle
valve, blower valve, whistle and whistle valve, by-pass valve
Axle Driven Pump:
Mounted on the Trailing Drivers’ axle
Pump bore 5 mm x ram stroke 6 mm
Lubricator:
Roscoe displacement type mounted
on the front deck
Burner: Convertible type to either coal or
alcohol
Fuel: Coal or alcohol
Tender:
Truck Wheels: Dia. 39 mm
Water Tank: Capacity: 360 cc, Hand
operation water pump mounted
Fuel Tank: Capacity:200 cc of alcohol
Minimum Radius:
2.5 meter (8.2 feet)
