France's unusual articulated engines - du Bousquet Locomotive

Summary

In 1905, Gaston Dubus introduced a revolutionary articulated locomotive design for hauling heavy coal trains in France. The design, with two articulated bogies and a unique cylinder arrangement, solved issues seen in contemporary models. These engines, built between 1905 and 1910, were successful in pulling freight at speeds of up to 60 km/h. The locomotives were later used in various countries, including Belgium and Spain, before most were withdrawn by the 1950s due to modern alternatives. Dubus's design remains a unique contribution to railway history, even though it wasn't his most powerful creation.

Takeaways

• 😀 In 1905, Gaston Dubus designed a new articulated locomotive for hauling heavy coal trains in France, solving the issue of double-heading with a unique design.
• 😀 The Duus locomotives featured two articulated bogeys, each with six driving wheels, and were powered by two cylinders, allowing for 12 driving wheels in total.
• 😀 One of the key features of Dubus's design was the use of high-pressure steam to power the rear bogey, while the front bogey operated with lower pressure steam.
• 😀 The locomotives had a gap between the water tanks for easier access to cylinders and to help support the weight of the cylinders with unpowered wheels.
• 😀 The rear bogey of the Duus design used a simple left-right rotation mechanism, in contrast to the more complex spherical joints used in Mya designs.
• 😀 48 Duus locomotives were built between 1905 and 1910, primarily for pulling heavy coal trains in northern France, with speeds of up to 60 km/h.
• 😀 Between 1910 and 1911, the East Railway built 13 additional Duus locomotives, and by 1921, some were reassigned to the Grand Centure line around Paris.
• 😀 Over the years, Duus locomotives were upgraded, including 38 new versions with superheaters, and they continued working around Paris until 1934.
• 😀 Some Duus engines were sent to Belgium and China, with 10 engines working in Spain until 1947, despite their poor water capacity and difficult operation on steep gradients.
• 😀 By 1950, Duus locomotives were mostly withdrawn due to newer, more powerful, and easier-to-maintain designs, with the last being scrapped in 1952. None were preserved.
• 😀 Gaston Dubus is mainly remembered for the Duus locomotives, though he designed other successful locomotives. His unique contribution remains highly regarded in railway history.

Q & A

What was the primary need that led to the development of the Duus locomotives?

The primary need was for new engines to haul heavy coal trains, which at the time required double-headed locomotives.

What was the main design challenge Gaston Dubus faced when creating the Duus locomotives?

The main challenge was finding an articulated locomotive design that overcame the drawbacks of existing models, such as issues with articulation and firebox designs.

How did the Duus locomotives differ from typical Maya-type articulated designs?

The Duus locomotives used a unique rear bogey design that only rotated left and right, unlike Maya designs, which used more complex spherical joints, making the Duus locomotives easier to maintain.

What was unique about the steam pressure system in the Duus locomotives?

The Duus locomotives featured a system where the rear set of wheels was powered by high-pressure steam, which then flowed to the front set that operated on lower pressure steam.

How many Duus locomotives were built between 1905 and 1910, and what was their main purpose?

A total of 48 Duus locomotives were built between 1905 and 1910, and their main purpose was to haul heavy coal trains along steep gradients in northern France.

What were some of the key upgrades made to the Duus locomotives after their initial success?

After their success, 38 upgraded versions of the Duus locomotives were built, featuring superheaters for improved efficiency.

What happened to the Duus locomotives after their service in northern France?

By 1921, many of the Duus locomotives were relocated to the Grand Ceinture line around Paris to move freight. They continued operating until the decline of railway traffic in 1934.

How did the Duus locomotives perform in countries outside of France?

The Duus locomotives were also built in Belgium for use in China on the Peking-Hankow Railway and in Spain, where they worked between Cordova and Beliz despite facing challenges like poor water capacity.

What were the main reasons the Duus locomotives were eventually withdrawn from service?

The Duus locomotives were withdrawn because they were less powerful and more complicated to maintain compared to newer, more efficient conventional locomotives.

How are Gaston Dubus' contributions to locomotive design remembered today?

While Gaston Dubus designed many successful locomotives, his name is most famously attributed to the unique Duus locomotives, showcasing that sometimes the most unique creations, not necessarily the best, become the most memorable.