Any train spotters here?

[Uncle Reff]

I have found this photograph in my recently deceased aunt's album and have no idea where the picture was taken or who the people in it are.

Has anyone any idea as to where this train may have been, clearly it is not in the UK, but any suggestions are welcome.

Thanks in advance - John

[Redroger]

Southern France, possibly on the former PLM railway (Paris, Lyon, Mediterrane)  The numbers 1-4-1 are a device used in France to signify the wheel arrangement of the locomotive, i.e. 2, leading wheels, 8 driving wheels, and a  wheel trailing truck under the cab. For reasons  best known to themselves the French only showed one side of the wheel arrangement in their designation, most would call the engine a 2-8-2 or Mikado locomotive. Southern France again suggested by the palm tree, but it could be in North Africa, Algeria or Tunisia.

[Uncle Reff]

Wow Thank you Redroger for a lightning response!

Any idea of a possible date at all?

John

[Redroger]

A pure guess 1930s; reason most 2-8-2 locomotives used in France and colonies after WW2 were built in America, Les Americaines as they were known. This is definitely not and American design, it appears to have a square "Belpaire" type firebox, and the fireboxes on the American engines had round tops. There is also no sign of spark goggles being worn by the crew, they were introduced after the war.

[Uncle Reff]

Brilliant, could not ask for more Sir!

Still have absolutely no idea why it should be in my late aunt's photograph album though 

There was one other photograph, which seems to be of an earlier generation, but is not in good condition so I put it in the restoration section:

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,460929

Much less to go on there, basically just a wheel!

Thanks once again - John

[Redroger]

Had a look at the wheel, sufficient visible to say it is not on a locomotive or tender. I think you are right about the WW1 dating. Somewhere on the vehicle out if camera sight will be stencilled "Huit chevaux, Quarante hommes" These vehicles were used for the transport of both men and horses though not simultaneously, in the quantities indicated by the stencils.

[IMBER]

Visible underneath the loco's numberplate is what appears to be a diamond shaped makers name plate.  I would put money on that being the plate of the North British Locomotive Company of Glasgow.  Any chance of you looking more closely at that? Not that it would narrow things down too much.  As one of the biggest loco manufacturers in the world they exported to many, many countries. If you can get anything off of the plate it just might be possible to take this a little further.

[Uncle Reff]

Thanks Imber,

This is a small photograph of 3" x 2" and I have scanned at the max I can do. Here they are if it is any improvement at all...

[Guy Etchells]

Southern France, possibly on the former PLM railway (Paris, Lyon, Mediterrane)  The numbers 1-4-1 are a device used in France to signify the wheel arrangement of the locomotive, i.e. 2, leading wheels, 8 driving wheels, and a  wheel trailing truck under the cab. For reasons  best known to themselves the French only showed one side of the wheel arrangement in their designation, most would call the engine a 2-8-2 or Mikado locomotive. Southern France again suggested by the palm tree, but it could be in North Africa, Algeria or Tunisia.

Possibly due to them counting the axles rather than wheels.
Cheers
Guy