Locomotive 241 P 17

Full steam ahead!

Imagine the steam oozing, the smell of burning coal, the whistle blowing…

Relive the atmosphere of yesteryear as you board a train pulled by an authentic steam locomotive once manufactured by the Le Creusot factories, the 241 P 17, affectionately nicknamed the “Princess of Le Creusot” by the people of Le Creusot.

Listed

Historical Monument

During this timeless journey, you’ll be able to admire Le Creusot’s great star: the authentic 241 P 17 steam locomotive, dating from 1949-1950.

Manufactured by Schneider from 1948 onwards, the 241 P steam locomotive series is used for high-speed traction, with a commercial speed of 120 km/h. The standard-bearer of steam traction, it occupies a special place in the memories of railwaymen and in the hearts of enthusiasts of old locomotives and trains.

The 241 P 17 is the only steam locomotive of its type and power (4000 hp) still in service in Europe since the series was discontinued in the late 1960s. It holds a mileage record of 1,741,865 km.

It is now a listed historic monument.

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Detail of locomotive 241 P 17.
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Parc des Combes

France's most imposing locomotive

Commissioned on May 10, 1950 at the Lyon-Mouche depot, she was transferred to Marseille-Blancarde in 1958, then to Le Mans in 1959, and provided the last commercial service for the 241 P in 1969. Restarted in 1969 to take part in an exhibition of railway equipment, she was finally transferred to Le Creusot in 1971, to the factory of Société des Forges et Ateliers du Creusot (SFAC), formerly Établissements Schneider.

After 13 years of meticulous restoration by a team of enthusiasts, it was put back into service for the first time in 2006, to travel the railroads of France and Europe. Every year, trips to tourist regions are organized, enabling passengers to relive the excitement of steam train journeys and rediscover the joys of travel in the past.

2026 Trips Programme

Locomotive 241 P 17 will undergo a technical overhaul during 2026 and will not be in service.

Scheduled services will be operated by locomotive CC 72064.
This diesel locomotive was built by Alstom in 1971. It has now been restored and is being showcased by ARCET, the Rhône-Alpes Association for the Conservation of Thermal Engines.

Upcoming journeys

9 May 2026, Guédelon Express: bound for Cosne-sur-Loire to visit the Guédelon builders’ site.
13 June 2026, De Gaulle Express: destination Chaumont, following in the footsteps of General de Gaulle. Visit to La Boisserie and the Charles de Gaulle Memorial in Colombey-les-Deux-Églises.
18 July 2026, Versailles: trip to Paris and a visit to the Palace of Versailles.
1 August 2026, the Alpine Valleys: a day in Annecy to celebrate the Fête du Lac.
5 & 6 September, Amnéville Zoo: heading to Metz for a weekend at Amnéville Zoo.

Book online

9May

Guédelon Express

Guided tours of the 241 P 17

Step inside the workshop of locomotive 241 P 17 and get up close to it. A guide will tell you about its history and the maintenance work currently being carried out.

Combine this tour with the Heritage Train, a journey aboard the little steam-powered train.

Tours available on selected dates. Click below to find out more.

Book online your guided tour

Did you know

What do the numbers in the names of steam locomotives mean?

In France, steam locomotives are classified according to the number of axles. The first number corresponds to the number of front axles, the second to the number of drive axles and the third to the number of rear axles.

In the case of the 241 P 1 7: 2 front axles, 4 drive axles, 1 rear axle. The number 17 denotes its number in the series: 17^th out of 35 examples.