Paris-Lyon-Méditerranée 242 CE No. 1

The 242 CE 1 was delivered to the Maurienne line in 1925 by Fives-Lille, which consisted of two halves and was the only one with power transmission by rods. Although the designation “242” is more indicative of a 2-B+B-2 locomotive, it still had a trailing axle at the end of each half. There was a large electric motor in each half, while competing locomotives featured a single or double electric motor per driven axle. The power was not transmitted to a rotating jackshaft, but to a reciprocating lever, which in turn drove the driver and coupled axles. A special approach was also taken with the electrics by dispensing with starting resistors and using a special, self-regulating starting system. Whether the special technical solutions of the 242 CE would have proven themselves in operation could not be determined conclusively, since it fell victim to an electrical fire in 1926 after it had run just 6,889 km and could no longer be repaired. At 164 tonnes, it is still considered the heaviest electric locomotive ever built in France.