040 TA Ouest - Overview

Overview

The series of 143 engines were built between 1914 and 1922, with a break during World War I. These were designed to replace the 030 0-6-0 shunting engines. The 0-6-0 engines possessed a traction force of 40 tons, while the 0-8-0 were designed to have a traction force of 60 tons. It was in 1913 that the research department of the Chemins de Fer de l'État began to study the question of a replacement. The first 18 engines, numbered 40-001 to 40-018, were put into service in 1914. The war prevented the construction of the rest of the series, and just two engines, 40-019 and 40-019, were built. Construction resumed in 1920 and the full series of 143 engines was put into service by 1922. The engines were assigned to the depots of Paris-Vaugirard, Montrouge, Batignoles, Sotteville (Rouen), Le Havre, Dieppe, Trappes, Chartres, Caen, Cherbourg, St-Brieuc, Brest, Nantes, Rennes and La Rochelle as well as industrial railways and harbours. When the SNCF was formed, the series was renumbered 040 TA 1 to 040 TA 143. There are two examples of this class which have survived into preservation. They are 040 TA 137 & 141.