Steam locomotive 231-E-26
Roco

Original page created on 12/03/2010; updated on 13/02/2023.

Brand - Reference

Roco 62303

Type

4-6-2 2 231-E-26 and tender 38-A-45

Mass / Max. current @ 12 V

572 g / 1 A

Comments

Embedded ESU LokSound V3.5 decoder.

Respect of the scale: correct, despite the slightly too small wheel diameter (which is explained for the driving wheels by the respect of the spacing, despite too big flanges), and slightly over-dimensioned width and height.

The exhaust sound is frankly a failure: not synchronized with speed, going from one rhythm to another without transition. Not good! And no trial could improve this.

The bogie sides are of the type 37.A and not 38.A (see Loco Revue sheet of Nord tenders, image below). But this picture shows a machine equipped with a tender 37.A. So Roco marked 38.A a 37.A tender? For information, here are diagrams of these bogies (extract from Loco Revue sheet No. 435/436). 231 E with 37 A tender

Drawing of the 37A and 38A bogies

See:

Modifications

  • Tender: right rear buffer glued, upper grids (soft plastic) straightened. Easy to remove, they can be better flattened, or replaced by brass grids. Be careful not to crush them with the protective plastic shell.
    Loco: side of SNCF badge painted metal colour.
  • “Holes” of the buffer beam painted matte black.
  • Rubber tyres replaced (after only three years, with a very low intensity use!)
  • Grey plate buffers mounted.

History

Construction in 1936 by ANF (Ateliers du Nord de la France — North of France Workshops); second sub-series, machines No. 21 to 28. Theoretical traction force, compound mode, 126 kN. Speed ​​limit 140 km/h. Weight 102 t (tender 80.5 t laden).

These locomotives are the sisters of 231-E-1 to 20, themselves coming from the transformation of 20 locomotives of the series 3521 to 89 of the PO (Compagnie de Paris à Orléans), transferred around 1934 to the Compagnie du Nord under numbers 31171 to 31190. This transformation, carried out on the principles of the engineer André Chapelon, practically doubled the power of these locomotives, while reducing their coal consumption.

These machines were capable of extraordinary performance, reaching speeds of over 170 km/h in tests. They were mainly used to pull prestige trains, such as the Flèche d’Or (Golden Arrow) for example. However, because of their relative fragility and their expensive maintenance, the 231 K ex-PLM (Paris Lyon Méditerranée) were preferred to ensure the last trains in steam traction between Calais and Paris in the 1960s.

Source : Loco-Revue sheet.

Documents

231-E-26 Roco231-E-26 Roco

231 E 34

Phooto SNCF.

231 profile
Loco dimensions Actual 1:87 Model
Overall length 13 810 158.8 160.0
Chassis length 13 130 150.9 151.3
Cab width 2 708 31.3 31.8
Boiler diameter 1 840 1 21.2
Chimney height 4 245 47.6 48.8
Total wheelbase 10 700 123.0 123.0
Distance A (bogie wheels) 2 300 26.4 26.0
Distance B 1 700 19.5
Distance C (driving w.) 2 050 23.6 24.0
Distance D 2 600 29.9
Bogie wheel diameter 960 11.0 10.8
Driving wheel diameter 1 950 22.4 21.9
Dolly wheel diameter 1 140 13.1 12.5
  1. Dimension measured on diagram.
Tender dimensions Actual 1:87 Model
Overall length 9 830 113.0 114.0
Chassis length 9 160 105.3 104.0
Width 2 960 34.0 34.6
Height 4 000 46.0 47.5
Total wheelbase 6 550 75.3 75.4
Bogie wheelbase 2 300 26.4 26.4
Wheel diameter 1 247 14.3 14.1

Document available as a PDF.
If you are interested, please let me know by e-mail,
specifying the title of the document-s.
For conditions, see page
Loco-Revue documentary sheets. .