SNCF Class 241P SNCF Class 241P The SNCF 241.P is a 4-8-2 'Mountain' type express passenger steam locomotive that ran on the "Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français", (French National Railways) from 1948 until 1973. Introduced as large scale electrification of the SNCF was already underway, they were the last new class of passenger steam locomotives in France. In 1944, SNCF reviewed its predicted postwar traffic requirements and determined a requirement for a locomotive capable of hauling passenger trains of 700–800 tonnes at , and capable of climbing gradients of 1 in 125 (8‰). A prototype 4-8-2 four cylinder compound locomotive, the
SNCF Class BB 12000 engines can support a very large overload current of 1800 amps, well over the 1000 amp design. They suffered very little wheel slip; they could pull 1756 tonnes trains on a 10 ‰ grade and 2885 tonnes trains on a 5 ‰ grade. The locomotives had few flaws, none of which related to the electrical components. They had cramped cabins, poor braking and couldn't work as multiple-unit sets. SNCF Class BB 12000 The SNCF Class BB 12000 were electric locomotives operated by SNCF. The first examples arrived on the railway in 1953, operating on the 25 kV 50 Hz line