SNCF No. 140-C-38, Vulcan Foundry No. 3237

Ready to leave Gueret while en route from Limoges to Montluçon. Restored by a group of enthusiasts in Limoges, the locomotive was built in England, by the Vulcan Foundry, Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire, in 1919.

A total of 340 of this class of heavy freight loco were ordered by the Chemin de fer de l'État, and the first 70 engines were built in France, variously by SACM (Belfort), Schneider et Cie, and Fives-Lille, during 1913, but when war was declared production was transferred to Britain.

Between 1914 & 1918, 235 almost identical locos were built by both the North British Locomotive Company, of Glasgow, and Nasmyth, Wilson & Company, of Manchester, and the Vulcan Foundry completed the final 35 locos between 1919 and 1920.

Six engines were lost at sea on 30 April 1918, when the cargo ship transporting them, the SS Saint Chamond was torpedoed off the Cornish coast, 14 miles north of St Ives Head.

A number of these 140-C class locos have survived, and are preserved, either as static displays or, like this one, used for hauling special excursion trains.

Historical data from: Davies, John (August 2001). Chemins de fer de l'État Locomotive List 1878–1938. Woodbridge, Queensland: Dr. John Davies. pp. 85–90. ISBN 0-7316-8442-7.

Canon Ixus 960is, and photofinished in Gimp.