French O-gauge trains by Munier, Fournereau, etc.

[Anonymous]

Last year I had the opportunity to purchase some French O gauge trains- several passenger cars (Munier and Fournereau) and a steam locomotive (Fournereau). I don't know what got into me, as I'm normally an American prototype modeller in HO, as well as a collector of prewar Lionel O, but they just appealed to me- long, long passenger cars, very different-appearing locomotive (a 4-6-2). So now I can't even operate them- no O layout- so they're on the shelf. But I love the look of them. I'd appreciate hearing from other people who have French trains like these.
Regards- Richard W.

[Anonymous]

The French hate all people from the USA. ecept maybe the leftists. I don't buy anything made in France. Boycott France.

[mersenne6]

There are some very fine trains from France. Prewar the firm JEP turned out a wide variety of trains and lineside accessories. They made a great streamlined 4-4-4 in chocolate brown with brass and copper trim that looks like it is doing a hundred miles an hour just sitting there.

[lionelsoni]

Mr. LaGrua, you should be ashamed of yourself. Merry Christmas.

[Jim Duda]

Well said, Mr. Nelson! I love french fries and some pretty good wines have come from French vineyards...

C'est la vie...

[daan]

The chocolate brown one is this one:

Which runs on 20 volts AC. It has the same sort of e-unit used in Lionels.
The postwar Jep engines look like this:

this is a bo-bo locomotive, actually being a 2-4-2. The midle 2 axles are powered. It runs on 15 volt DC. This was one of the first locomotives with a five pole anchor, it gives smooth running and higher torque.
I've also seen the passenger cars on the internet, but I don't have them myself.
Quality is reasonable, but they wear quicker since axles and gears are not properly beared. Most of the gearaxles are moulded in the diecast (zinc) motorpart and if not lubricated perfectly it wears quick.
The mushrooms which collect the power from the third rail also wear out quickly, since they slide instead of roll across the third rail..

[Anonymous]

That's great! It sounds like you have some wonderful trains there!

I've always loved the old French trains like these. The only French O gauge piece I currently have in my collection, however, is an operating level crossing made by LR (for the company's founder, Louis Roussy, but sold under the brand name Le Rapide, meaning, fast). Unfortunately, it doesn't work, but it is in very nice condition and very good looking. I also have a plastic battery-operated HO train set that was made in France in the 1960's.

French trains are harder to find than trains from other countries such as Britain, Germany, etc. because the French manufacturers tended to focus on the local market rather than exporting their trains.

Au revoir, mon amis!

[Anonymous]

Hi guys- Thanks for your positive comments. Here are some photos of the French trains I's mentioned.

The photos are: (1) Fournereau Pacific 231D (2) Fournereau First Class Coach (3) Fournereau Third Class Coach (4) Munier 1st Class Coach (5) Munier CIWL Wagon Lits Dining Car (6) Munier 4-wheel branch line coach (7) Munier commuter coach (8) Hornby TZB locomotive (9) Hornby TNB locomotive
Cheers- Richard W. in California