European Railroad Discussion > Loco Tracteurs

"Loco Tracteurs" are a European classification of small switching locomotives operated by station staff at small terminals in Europe. 

A "shunter" is a railway employee who performs switching, coupling and uncoupling under the direction of a station master or facilities manager.

Steam engines required a driver and fireman to keep them ready for service at any time, but diesel or electric locomotives could be shut down when not in use.

In France, the post WW1 "Eight hour law" required a minimum eight hour day for most types of employment. The railways increased the productivity of shunters by allowing them to operate small locomotives called "loco tracteurs" to perform switching tasks around their work location without needing a driver and fireman.

Locomotives similar to the French loco tracteurs were a feature of many rail systems in Europe.

The black and white image shows a Danish (DSB) loco tractor switching a freight shed in Fredericia, Denmark in 1971.

The second image shows a French loco tracteur built in 1931 for the Paris-Lyon-Marseilles railway, with a Mercedes Benz diesel engine and a six speed manual transmission.
Image from 1969.

The third image shows a Moyes tracteur in Boulogne, France in 1969.

Notice, the DSB machine has air brake connections, the French ones do not.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/25/19 19:06 by eminence_grise.

Interesting stuff. European version of a track-mobile or critter.
Doug

Now days it's either a Track-Mobile or a front end loader.

PHall Wrote:
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> Now days it's either a Track-Mobile or a front end
> loader.

Very true. However, many of the small yards and facilities where the tractors were used have closed.

Where small switchers are used, more and more are "telecommande", French for RCO.

 

eminence_grise Wrote:

> ...................The second image shows a French loco tracteur
> built in 1931 for the Paris-Lyon-Marseilles
> railway, with a Mercedes Benz diesel engine and a
> six speed manual transmission.
> Image from 1969...................

When you first posted these three photographs on 8 / 23-24 / 15, I replied on 8/29 that Y6038 was one of a group of about twenty machines built for the ETAT in 1924-32 and which were rebuilt in 1960-61 by SNCF Nevers.  I still stand by that, ref the 1971 edition of Le Materiel Moteur SNCF, so I would be interested to know why you think this is an ex PLM machine.   Did you photograph it at Trappes ?

The original posts can be quickly found by searching  "Moyse" on TO.

With best regards,

SZ

Edited to add:  Mr Grey is quite right:  Using an internet search for 'SNCF 6038' gives, via the preserved Y 6020 Wiki article, the heritage that Y 6038 and Y 6039 were both originally PLM machines.  I stand corrected ! 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/25/19 20:06 by Steinzeit2.

Are these also known as "Rangers?"

tramfan Wrote:
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> Are these also known as "Rangers?"

I think the German title for small switch locomotives is "rangierlok".

eminence_grise Wrote:
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> tramfan Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Are these also known as "Rangers?"
>
> I think the German title for small switch
> locomotives is "rangierlok".
 Thank you!

eminence_grise Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> tramfan Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Are these also known as "Rangers?"
>
> I think the German title for small switch
> locomotives is "rangierlok".

A Rangier is a Shunter (Switchman).

TAW