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 26000 simplicity of equipment, and price. Two locomotives SNCF BB 20011 and 20012 were used to develop and test the dual voltage traction system, microprocessor control systems and auxiliary motors, BB 20012 was used to develop and test the pneumatic and electrical braking system. The Paris-based industrial design group MBD Design contributed to the design of the locomotive. 264 of the class were ordered by SNCF, only 234 were built, the last 30 of the order were instead built as a new triple voltage design capable of also operating on 3 kV DC; these used asynchronous electric motors and became the