The 140 C

== Overview ==
In 1909, the Chemin de fer de l'Ouest went bakrupt, and was acquired by the governement which incoroporated it into the Administration des Chemins de Fer de l’ÉTAT. The new buyer had to meet the demand for more efficient and newer equipment to ensure traffic on the old Ouest’s rails. A new series of engines type 2-8-0 (140 in French), was developed based from another 2-8-0 series, the 4500 to 4530 from the Ouest. 
The 70 first locomotives were built between 1912 and 1913, by the SACM at Belfort, by Schneider at the Creusot, and Fives-Lille. But the World War 1 had mobilised the French industry, which wasn't able at the time to continue the commands. The ÉTAT turns its back to the British industry, and orders were taken over by Nasmyth, Wilson & Company at Manchester and North-British Locomotive Company at Glasgow and they delivered 200 engines to the ÉTAT. In total the ÉTAT, had received 270 engines which were marked as 140-101 to 370, those engines were used for mixed-traffic.
In 1916, the Ministry of War, ordered 70 other engines for the war effort on the frontline. Those 70 Engines delivered to the Artillerie Lourde sur Voie Ferré (ALVF), and were used to pull artillery trains. After the War, the engines were sold to the EST Railways and PLM Railways, 35 locos for each companies. 
The PLM engines were numbered 140-K-1 to 35. They were all assigned at Montargis' depot, and pulled only goods trains on the Bourbonnais's line and the radiant lines. The EST engines were marked 40001 to 40035, and like their sisters on the ÉTAT, were used for mixed-traffic services: goods trains, locals, mixed trains, and even Express.
In 1938, the SNCF was formed after the merge of every private railway companies. The 140-101 to 370 became the SNCF 3-140-C-101 to 370 from the Western Region, the engines from the former EST and PLM were reunited on the Eastern Region, and were marked as SNCF 1-140-C-1 to 70. During World War 2 and the Occupation of France, the Nazis requisitioned an important amount of 140-C as those locos were to they liking. 
Category:French steam locomotives