SNCF de fer", literally, 'path of iron', means railway). These were the: The French state originally took 51% ownership of SNCF and invested large amounts of public subsidies into the system. Today, SNCF is wholly owned by the French state. Following the 1940 Armistice and until August 1944, SNCF was requisitioned for the transport of German armed forces and armaments. The invading German troops were responsible for the destruction of nearly 350 French railway bridges and tunnels. According to differing estimates, SNCF surrendered between 125,000-213,000 wagons and 1,000-2,000 locomotives. France's railway infrastructure and rolling stocks were a target for the French
SNCF 232.Q.1 SNCF 232.Q.1 The SNCF 232.Q.1 was an experimental prototype steam locomotive of the Société nationale des chemins de fer français (SNCF) which entered service in 1940. It was Baltic or 4-6-4 locomotive. The locomotive was ordered on 9 March 1936 by the Société nationale des chemins de fer français in an attempt to solve the problem of the crankshaft which limited, in part, the speed of the locomotive and its inherent dynamic augment or hammer blow. The order for its construction was placed with the firm of Schneider et Cie. It was decided to equip the locomotive with a conventional