SNCF Steam Engine Class 141 R from Modelbex is coming soon

Lematec has announced that the Modelbex models of the French steam locomotive for gauge 1 are in final production. If nothing comes up, they should be delivered as early as March 2025. They have been handcrafted from brass with the usual features such as steam from the chimney and cylinder taps, an opening firebox door and a loudspeaker in the locomotive.

The 141 R is a locomotive type based on the American USRA Light Mikado from Baldwin Locomotive Works and adapted to French conditions. Essentially, this involved a lower overall height and the left-hand control used in almost all of France. 1323 of these locomotives were produced in the USA and Canada between 1945 and 1947 and shipped to France because there was an acute shortage of locomotives following the end of the Second World War. Ironically, the conversion of production to the metric system led to a delay. The Americans still adhere to the antiquated imperial system with inches and feet to this day – which is no competitive advantage.

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