Locomotives with radial axle at the rear; Corsican type

Traction units were studied by the Corsican Railways Equipment Sub-Committee, a body of the Ministry of Public Works, and a proposal was made by Mr Bandérali to the Committee for Technical Operation of Railways. This organism, created in 1879, had decided on the type in use on the Chemin de Fer d'Hermes à Beaumont, but more broadly dimensioned to meet the requirements of the Corsican network.

The machines recently built at the S.A.C.M. in Belfort for the 1.05 m track lines of the Compagnie Franco-Algérienne seemed to him to meet the desired conditions. These three-axle locomotives with a rear bissel were designed for the trailer of 36 t trains on a 30°/°° gradient at a speed of 30 km/h. This load could be up to 483 t on level ground for the same speed. However, it was accepted that the operating company could propose a model with comparable performance, based on its own experience on the networks it administers.

The C.F.D. therefore sought among the French manufacturers a machine with characteristics close to the recommended model and derived from the one in service on its continental lines. The type 96 of the Ateliers de Fives-Lille seemed to suit them and this proposal received the approval of the higher authority.

Description of the Corsican type locomotives

These locomotives had almost identical characteristics to the proposed model, however they differed in their frame outside the wheels, which simplified their construction; moreover, the Allan distribution with two eccentrics was replaced by a Walschaert distribution as on the types in service with the Company. Similarly, the rear bissel was replaced by a Roy system radial axle.

Compared to the Yonne type, these more powerful machines, designed to tow heavy convoys on a line with a tormented profile, had benefited from a larger boiler with a heating surface of 59.70 m2 The tube bundle was composed of 123 tubes with a diameter of 0.041 m and a length of 3.48 m. The dome supporting balance valves was located on the first shell and the sand tank on the second. The much larger cylinders (0.350 x 0.460) and the increased diameter of the driving wheels to 1,000 m made it a powerful locomotive and "good runner". The power take-off was on the third axle. The 4.30 m wheelbase provided good track handling.

The large capacity water tanks (4000 I) were extended to the front of the cylindrical body by a toolbox. The smoke box door was double-leafed and a handrail was attached to the front of the machine following the contour of the water boxes. The shelter, open on the sides, had at the bow and stern a sheet metal plate, slightly indented on the sides, pierced by two rectangular portholes. Four small columns supported the roof.

The decoration of these machines was identical to that of the previous series, but the marking had received important modifications:

• On the water boxes the company monogram and the machine registration were framed by the rectangular manufacturer's plate and were painted in yellow with red shading.
• A brass plate bearing the inscription "No." and the engine registration was attached on each side at the base of the chimney.
• On the front and rear cross members painted in vermilion red, the company monogram and engine registration framing the centre stamp were painted yellow.

Delivery and assignment of Corsican type locomotives

The 14 engines of this series were delivered in three shipments The first shipment including locomotives 28 to 33 was divided between the depots of Bastia and Corte for the operation of the first section of the central line. The initial number of units was 4 at Bastia and 2 at Corte.

The second delivery of 4 machines (34 to 37) was attached to the east coast line and were distributed in 2 units to Bastia and Ghisonaccia.

The balance of the order was sent to Ajaccio for the operation of the Ajaccio-Bocognano section: it consisted of 4 units n° 38 to 41 all based at the Ajaccio depot.

These machines handled all the traffic on the central and eastern lines until the arrival of the Mallet locomotives. They were relegated to section train service as and when the latter came into service.

One of them, No. 39, was modified for fuel oil operation in 1945. On this occasion, it was fitted with water tanks from a reformed Mallet. It does not seem that this modification gave the expected results, because shortly after the tests this machine was parked, then, reformed two years later.

The first units were amortized in 1937. After the 1939-1945 war, only 5 machines of this type remained in service. At that time, the C.F.D. was forced to give up the operation of the network to the state. Therefore all the locomotives of the Corsican network were excluded from the Company's fleet.

Machines which have been involved in track laying and ballasting before being used in the operating department. Units Nos. 35, 36, 38, 39 and 41 were taken over by the C.F.C. in 1945, date of the denunciation of the operating agreement to the C.F.D. by the State.

source : MTVS 1988-4