With lots of extra plumbing, turned out in good polish at the Mulhouse museum:

http://abpr.railfan.net/abprphoto.cgi?a ... anColl.jpg

Glad to see at least one of these wonderful Pacifics preserved. Had the pleasure of riding behind 231E4, (same class, SNCF designation instead of CdF Nord) from Paris to Brussels and it was an experiance I'll never forget. Rode most of the way in the front vestibule of the train right behind the the tender. I looked awful when I got to The Hague where I was met by some friends of my parents, but, hey, what's a little coal dust when you're a kid!!??

Things were a lot simpler and safer in 1959 then in Europe and the US. Thanks for posting the photo. Good memories of machines and people both French and American.

There are two ex Nord Chapelon Pacifics preserved. Both are from the 1936-7 batch built new for the Nord rather than the earlier ones which were PO rebuilds of 1934 from PO locos dating from 1909-14.

Nord 3.1192 pictured was SNCF 231E22 of 1936.

231E41 of 1937 is plinthed at St Pierre des Corps, Tours. A recent report suggested that the paintwork had suffered weather wear.

Thanks for the info. Found two photos of 231E41 at:

http://letraindalain.free.fr/Site%20web ... 231E41.htm

Does look a little worse for wear and weathering.

DaveS