Updated: 25 Jan 2004

The distinguishing characteristic of the tank engine is not so much the absence of a tender as such, but rather the ability to run in either direction equally well, eliminating the need to turn locomotives at termini. This page deals with tank engines that were, or appear to be, designed so that travelling cab-first was the preferred direction of travel. This meant large windows at the "rear" of the cab, so the view was much better than that of a tank engine proceeding in the usual xchimney-first direction.

The Fives-Lilles Tank Engines. (France)
The St Georges-La Mure line in France was the starting point of a large project which would have linked Grenoble and Gap (120 km away), hence the acronym SGLM-G (St Georges de Commiers à La Mure et Gap). Though never finished the line did extend 60 km. In 1886 the French manufacturer "Compagnie de Fives-Lilles" was building all rolling stock and was apparently operating the line too. The engineer Edmond Roy designed 0-6-2 tender-locomotives for coal haulage, with two "radiant" axles working like a Bissel truck, to help the locomotive to negotiate the tight radius curves on the line. The SGLM-G line had a large number of tunnels for its modest length, and these locomotives normally ran cabforward so that the crew were not choked by steam and smoke.

These locomotives could haul more than 65 Tonnes at 20 Km/h uphill. Downhill, coal trains weighing 180 Tonnes were drawn at 45 Km/h. After 1909 the use of these locomotives began to fall off, but the last remaining example was not scrapped until 1962.

Left: A Fives-Lilles Tank Engine. Note four large windows at the back of the cab, for cabforward operation. This tank engine was built by the Compagnie de Fives-Lilles. The total weight of these locomotives ranged from 30 to 37 Tonnes; horsepower varied between 225 and 275 HP, varying from one series to another. The driver diameter was 1 meter; all versions were equipped with a non-automatic vacuum-brake. As of Nov 2003, the Groupe Fives-Lilles still exists.

Left: Another tank engine with extensive windows at the "back" of the cab, to aid cabforward operation. As used on the Baie De Somme railway in France. This example looks like it might have been out of use; date of photo unknown.

Left: Manufacturer's photograph of the same design.

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