SCHNEIDER “TYPE 119”

    Roger West’s drawing reproduced above also graces the front cover of Pocket Book NEF, "The Industrial Locomotives of North Eastern France", and depicts de Wendel et Cie 84 (Schneider 3483 of 1920).

    Schneider’s standard gauge 0−6−0 side tank "Type 119" was introduced after the First World War and, together with the many German locomotives received as reparations, helped to fill the needs of French industry in the immediate post-war years. The first thirty, works numbers 3480 to 3509, were built and delivered in 1920 and 1921, followed by 4327 to 4332 in 1926. A modernised version of Schneider type 41, the class was a sturdy design having cylinders 460mm by 600mm, wheels of 1210mm diameter and weighing 32.5 metric tons when empty (42 metric tons in working order). The wheelbase measured 3.5 metres and the maximum height (rail level to the top of the chimney) was 4.2 metres. A smaller chimney, giving a height of 3.8 metres above rail level, was available as an alternative and this was probably the more popular variation, although the exact numbers built of each design are unknown.

    As will be seen from the list, "Type 119" locomotives were delivered to purchasers in most regions of France except the very South, and several remained, either in service or in reserve, until recent times, despite the rapid dieselisation of the last ten years which was even more marked in France than in Britain.

"TYPE 119" - ORIGINAL PURCHASERS

    The references in brackets are the appropriate page numbers for those locomotives appearing in "The Industrial Locomotives of Northern France" (NF) and ‘The Industrial Locomotives of North Eastern France" (NEF).
(CF) refers to the next Pocket Book in the series, "The Industrial Locomotives of Central France" for which page numbers have not yet been allocated.

A typical example of the class, Schneider 3499 at a Paris Gasworks in June 1954. (Noel A. Needle)

    It is a most unusual fact but, as far as I can trace, the whole of the class spent their working lives with their original purchasers or their successors, with one exception. It is necessary to add the qualification "or their successors", because of such events as the nationalisation of the coal miles and the gas industry after the Second World War which led to changes of ownership - not, however, to any re−allocation or transfer. The sole exception is 3487 which was sold, at a date unknown, to Société Anonyme Port Givet, Ardennes (NEF 6). One other changed hands - 3480 was sold in July 1950 to locomotive dealers Éts. Brunner & Marchand, Bouray-sous-Juine, Seine et Oise (their file number Lv 380). As far as is known, however, she was never re−sold and lay out of use at Bouray for several years before being cut up. The whole of her working life was, therefore, spent with Éts. Solvay.

    The class remained in service throughout most of the 1950’s and several were still at work in 1965. These included some or all of the de Wendel machines and 4327 which, after nationalisation of the mines on 1st January 1945, became Houilleres du Bassin de Blanzy, Exploitation de Decize, No.2.

    "Yesterday afternoon an assistant on the locomotive engine, which goes from Park Gate to Earl Fitzwilliam’s Stubbin Pit, was knocked off the engine whilst it was passing under a bridge in Greasbrough Road. Before the engine can get under the bridge it is necessary to lower the funnel."

("Sheffield Daily Telegraph", 16th January 1884.) (K.P.P.)

    "On Tuesday, 2nd March 1847, the navvies employed on the Bridlington & Filey Railway struck for an extra sixpence a day."

("Hull Times", 5th March 1847.)

    "Since the introduction of that powerful locomotive - the MORPETH - the works of the Bridlington & Filey Railway have progressed rapidly."

("Hull, Times", 30th April 1847.) (K.P.P.)