pacific 231 G 558 -SNCF-

[wjstix]

In the UK they generally use five-digit numbers where the first two indicate the "class" or type of engine and the last three are the engine's individual numbers.

For example an English, Welsh and Scottish 60-class diesel EWS 60016:

http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0WTbx.KkctKJygAatujzbkF/SIG=12buq4h00/EXP=1254941450/**http%3A//web.ukonline.co.uk/railpics/picture/sj023627.jpg

BTW if the colors look familiar, EWS was / is a subsidiary of Wisconsin Central !!

[231G558]

231G558

 

 this picture shows the loc in a hall that is the "Buddicom" factory where first steam locs of the "compagnie de l'ouest" were built and repaired on 1841 at Sotteville les Rouen, on the line PARIS-ROUEN-LE HAVRE.

[231G558]

samfp1943

This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The dimensions of the original image are 500x374 with a file size of 110k.

Is "Scotteville"  the normal point where the engine is( or was) based ?

Once it is explained, the system of locomotive numbering makes a lot of sense.

Is it strictly only a French system, or common to other countries as well?

 

 

 

yes, Sotteville is the place where the loc is based, also where is made the technical maintenance

for the number system, i don't know if other countries made the same...

[espeefoamer]

I think England used the same system.

[samfp1943]

This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The dimensions of the original image are 500x374 with a file size of 110k.

Is "Sotteville"  the normal point where the engine is( or was) based ?

Once it is explained, the system of locomotive numbering makes a lot of sense.

Is it strictly only a French system, or common to other countries as well?

 

[231G558]

 i present you a steam loc from my region, she's class on historical monuments :

 

some technic : 

-national company (SNCF)

-construction year : 1922

-compound 2500 hp

-104 tons, 130 km/h (80 mph)

 in France, steam locs were numeroted like that : 231 = wheel arrangement (2 carrying wheels, 3 motor wheels, 1 carrying wheel) / G = construction year / 558 = number in the serie