Series tractors

Description of the Dordogne type tractor (Series 650 to 652)

These tractors differed from their predecessors in that they had a panoramic cab, the lightness of which blurred the massive silhouette of their predecessors. The doors slid out of the cab. The large engine hood had a grille reinforced by a slightly sloping protective harrow. An aesthetic research in the realization of the various railings had called upon the arcs of circle and gave the best effect to the whole, however spoiled by the presence of important skirts, hiding the connecting rods and a part of the drive train.

The livery of these units was dark green. The handrails, handrails and radiator grill were yellow. Marking consisted of rectangular plates affixed to the skirts, one bearing the company initials and the other the registration number. In addition, the bumper bars were similarly marked with yellow paint on a vermilion red background.

These tractors were the property of the Department of the Dordogne.

Delivery and assignments of the tractor type Dordogne (Series 650 to 652)

• on January 2, 1946 from the chassis of the TD n° 26 machine for the 650, delivered on December 5, 1946.
• on January 3rd 1947 from the chassis of the TD n° 17 machine for the 651, delivered on September 15th 1947.
• on October 20, 1947 from the chassis of the TD No. 11 machine for the 652, delivered on March 25, 1948.

They were put into regular service successively on 15 January 1947, 27 September 1947 and 30 April 1948. Assigned to freight train service, they were employed until the closure of the network on July 1, 1949.

Parked, after regrouping the rolling stock, they were offered for sale by the Department of the Dordogne. Sold to the Pas-de-Calais V.F.I.L. network, they were sent to Lumbres:

• july 8, 1949 for 652
• on 11 August 1949 for the other two.

source : MTVS 1989-1