Est 0.501 to 0.691
| Industry | Railway |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1856 |
| Headquarters | France |
| Products | Steam locomotives |
The Est 0.501 to 0.691, alternatively referred to as Est 0501 to 0691, comprised a fleet of 191 French steam engines engineered primarily for hauling freight. Constructed over a period spanning from 1856 to 1886, these locomotives were operated by the Chemins de fer de l'Est railway company.
Construction history
Originally, 25 units were produced as Engerth locomotives by Le Creusot during 1856–1857, bearing fleet numbers 0.164 to 0.188. Due to operational limitations inherent in the Engerth design, these machines were converted into locomotives equipped with separate tenders. Following this modification, they were renumbered from 0.501 to 0.525, and their adhesive weight rose from 39.3 tons to 45.5 tons. The Est Company's workshops in Épernay carried out this reconstruction between 1860 and 1868.
The initial Engerth configuration featured a broad firebox positioned beyond the wheelbase, resulting in significant overhang at the rear. To counterbalance this on the rebuilt locomotives, a front counterweight of was installed. Subsequent production runs from 1866 to 1872 saw this counterweight reduced on the following 38 locomotives, and it was completely eliminated on models manufactured after 1880.
Between 1866 and 1884, additional series with design modifications were commissioned from various manufacturers:
| Order Date | Delivery Date | Quantity | Est Numbers | Type | Manufacturer | Serial Numbers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 April 1854 | 1856–1857 | 25 | 0.501 – 0.525 | 24 | Schneider - Le Creusot | 222–246 |
| 25 January 1866 | 1866–1867 | 16 | 0.526 – 0.541 | 31 | Graffenstaden | 403–418 |
| 21 March 1866 | 1869 | 16 | 0.542 – 0.557 | 34 | Fives-Lille | 1668–1683 |
| 1870–1872 | 1872–1873 | 6 | 0.558 – 0.563 | 37 | Épernay Works | 114–119 |
| 12 April 1880 | 1881 | 12 | 0.564 – 0.575 | 44 | SACM - Graffenstaden | 3021–3032 |
| 7 July 1880 | 1881–1882 | 20 | 0.576 – 0.595 | 44 | SACM - Graffenstaden | 3118–3127,3071–3080 |
| 12 January 1884 | 1886 | 46 | 0.596 –0.641 | 44 | Schneider - Le Creusot | 2284–2293,2308–2343 |
| 17 April1884 | 1886 | 25 | 0.642 –0.666 | 44 | Anciens Établissements Cail | 2221–2245 |
| 24 April1884 | 1886 | 12 | 0.667 –0.678 | 44 | SACM - Belfort | 3776–3787 |
| 24 April1884 | 1886 | 13 | 0.678 –0.691 | 44 | Schneider - Le Creusot | 2400–2412 |
The earliest batch of these locomotives bore names inspired by characters from the literary works of François Rabelais, showcasing a cultural naming strategy:
The subsequent group (units numbered from 0.526 to 0.541) featured names derived from European cities, reflecting a focus on regional representation: