PLM 241.C.1

PLM 241.C.1 was a French four-cylinder 4-8-2 (Mountain) compound steam locomotive, built as a prototype for the Chemins de fer de Paris à Lyon et à la Méditerranée.

The firm of Schneider et Cie took charge of the construction of the locomotive in 1930.

It was based on the earlier PLM 241.A, but with several modifications to increase the design speed from 110 to 120 km/h:
 * The diameter of the driving wheels was increased from 1790 to 2000 mm;
 * The crankshaft was modified, and the connecting rods were now attached to the second and third pairs of driving wheels whereas on the 241.A they were attached to the first and second; this necessitated the inside high pressure cylinders be located between the first and second driving axles;

In addition the steam dome was moved forward to be just behind the chimney.

In 1932, the single PLM trefle exhaust was replaced by a double cross-type. A standard smokebox door replaced the paraboloid-shaped original and smoke deflectors were added at the same time.

The locomotive passed to the SNCF in 1938, who renumbered it 5-241.C.1.

It was retired in 1960, and scrapped two years later, having outlasted the other PLM mountains by a decade; despite it being the only member of its type, although it did form the basis of the SNCF 241.P. Some of its features were integrated into the fifty 241.D and the one 241.E rebuilds of the PLM 241.A locomotives.

Models
The PLM 241.C.1 has been reproduced in HO scale by:
 * La Maison des trains – metal body often mounted on a commercial chassis from Jouef, Fleischmann or Märklin;
 * Jouef Club in 1991 – limited edition;
 * Loco-diffusion – as a brass kit.