Fives-Lille and Cail locomotives; general interest type

These machines had to be able to sustain high speeds on difficult routes and to pull loads that could exceed 60 t. The construction of the 10 units planned to arm the three lines of this network was entrusted to the Fives-Lille workshops in Fives (Nord).

Thereafter, because of the good behaviour of these machines, the equipment of the general interest network of Charentes and Deux-Sèvres motivated the order of 11 additional machines , practically identical, at Ets Cail in Denain (Nord).

The Fives-Lille locomotives of the general interest type

Description of the Fives-Lille locomotives

The manufacturer's Type 102 machines had the same general arrangement as Type 49 (chassis outside the wheels, last axle driven by the driving rod, dome on the first shell supporting the balance valves, Walschaert distribution), but a larger boiler had been installed. Thus the heating surface had been increased by the installation of 131 tubes of 3.10 m in length instead of 113 of 2.80 m. The smoke box door was double-leafed. The dimensions of the cylinders were significantly increased. The diameter of the driving wheels was increased from 0.900 to 1.000 m. The wheelbase had been increased to 4,200 m and the length over the buffers to 8,050 m. The water tanks had been extended to the front of the 1,400 I cylindrical body. In addition, the capacity of the fuel bunkers had been increased from 1,000 to 1,100 kg. As a result, the operating weight was increased from 22.8 t to 28.5 t.

The shape of the shelter was identical to that of the 28-41 series in Corsica. After a few years of use, the cabin was partially closed, either by a canvas or by means of a sheet metal plate.

A handrail, following the shape of the front of the machine, was fixed at the end of the water boxes.

The machines were painted black and the bumper bars were painted red. The latter were marked in white letters, on the left with the C.F.D. and on the right with the engine registration. In addition, a small plate, attached to the base and on each side of the chimney, bore the words "No." and the locomotive registration. On the water boxes only the rectangular builder's plate had been attached in the middle.

As they passed through the G.R., the boilers were modified by installing round smoke box doors, giving these locomotives a more modern look.

Delivery and assignment of Fives-Lille locomotives

Initially planned to equip the lines of the first Vivarais network, the series was reduced by 4 units (n° 53 to 56) assigned in Corsica to serve on the line from Ponte- Leccia to Calvi. These locomotives were attached at a rate of 2 to the Calvi depot and 2 to the traction annex of Ponte-Leccia. On this occasion, the number plates of the chimneys were removed to fix them on the water tanks.

The rest of the series was actually delivered on the lines of Vivarais and distributed between the depot of Tournon (N° 57 to 60) and that of La Voulte-sur-Rhône (N° 61 to 62).

The Yssingeaux line was equipped with Mallet machines to replace the four units assigned to Corsica. Subsequently, two additional Mallet machines having been ordered and assigned to Tournon, machines 59 to 60 were transferred to the depot at La Voulte-sur-Rhône.

The only mutation recorded was the departure of machine n° 62, on December 12, 1914, for the Charentes and Deux-Sèvres network where it was used on the Epannes line and attached to the traction annex of Ferrière- d'Aunis. In 1946, it was transformed into a diesel locomotive by the workshops of Saint-Jean- d'Angély.

These locomotives were overhauled between 1947 and 1964, after excellent service

Cail locomotives of the general interest type

Description of the Cail locomotives

These machines were similar to those of the previous series, but differed in that the stamp was raised to 11 kg, which brought the tractive effort to 4,029 kg allowing the towing of a larger number of vehicles. In fact, during the tests, this type of machine towed a convoy of 70 t in level at a speed of 45 km/h. They were recognisable externally by their round smoke box door and the inscription in yellow paint of the initials C.F.D. and the registration number framing the manufacturer's plate on the sides of the water boxes. Their livery and markings were identical to the Fives du Vivarais series of machines.

Delivery and assignment of Cail locomotives

The Cail factory delivered the entire series to Saint-Jean-d'Angély in the last half of 1895. After helping with the track laying and ballasting work, they were put into regular service in February 1897. They did not undergo any changes and remained attached to the Saint-Jean-d'Angély depot until the closure of the network in 1951.

However, units No. 71, 74 and 76 were parked in poor condition during the 1939-1945 war and sold for scrap in 1944. On the other hand, machine n° 70 was transformed into a locotractor by the Ateliers de Saint-Jean-d'Angély in 1948.

source : MTVS 1988-4