This film “Why the S.N.C.F. Converted to Electricity” details the SNCF’s transition from steam locomotives to using electric (and diesel-electric) locomotives. This electrification process actually began in the 1920’s and continued through the 1950’s. The SNCF, the French National Railways, is a state owned railroad system of France first established in 1938. The film is presented by French production service La France En Marche (:10) and produced by Albert Guyot (:28) in Eastman Color. It features music by Andre Lavagne and Pierre Lantier, with photography by Noel Ramettre and Claude Giresse. This English version is narrated by John Seabourne.

The film opens with a steam engine of the SNCF line (1:01). By 1938, steam locomotives were as perfect as they were going to get (1:19) and the French railroads had 15,000 engines. Some of the steam liners are seen running over the frozen ground (1:40). Others move from the hilly routes linking the coal mining district to the steel producing region of Lorraine (2:12). One train is pictured heading east with coke for steel mills (2:25) while the other heads for the blast furnaces of northern France with iron ore. Miners lower themselves into the depths of the pit (2:51). Cranes are seen in use working to move earth and rock around the yard in order to help distribute the coal among 25 main stocking centers (4:02). Cars full of the coal head for the fuel stations of the French National Railways (4:37). The driver and fireman (4:55) work on repairs for the engine. The fireman is then shown shoveling coal into the fire box (6:20). Another driver and fireman are pictured with the modern engine which employs an endless automatic screw (6:35). The driver checks over the wheels and pistons (7:20). The TIA compound is added and then the tender is filled with water (7:59). Coal is added (8:13). The smoke box is cleaned (8:30). The fire tubes (8:47) and boiler tubes are cleaned (9:24). Any defects are noted in the log book (10:05). Checkups are conducted after 40,000 miles (10:32), 90,000 miles though at 240,000 (11:02) miles the locomotive is completely over hauled. A train is pictured at the Lyon station (11:57). This electric engine is compared to the steam engine beginning with the control room (12:33). The speedometer is noted (13:27). The camera highlights the spider web like connection of cables between the cars (14:06). The catenary is zoomed in on (15:01) followed by a map depicting the French Railways Network (15:23). A new method of electrification was tested in 1949 (17:42). A newsreel follows from 1951 depicting the issue of electrification (17:45). Trains move continuously between coal country and iron county (19:44). A new technique is employed to lines as early as 1954 (19:51). A crew enjoys the clean spacious area of the electric engine (22:06). The film turns to show the SNCF BB 13000 as an example of locomotives which can be used on the alternating current (23:07). A scale model of this engine follows (23:19). The current transformer is fitted to the chassis of an engine (25:32). The generating set is installed (25:41). One of the six traction motors is set with its gears (26:08). The body of the engine is lowered (26:46). Replacements for electric locomotives is considerably easy to handle (27:40). The old costs of maintenance is compared to that of the new (28:34). A map follows depicting the electrification process which continued after 1957 (29:05). The express locomotive here is leaving for the Spanish border and was to return the following day (30:00). French power consumption is compared to that of the electric line (31:26). A hydroelectric plant follows (31:50). Enabling better customer service, the electric engines started smoother, without a jolt (32:15) and there was no soot. The film predicts that the final steam engines will disappear by 1970 (33:08). In reality the last steam locomotive in service was 140 C number 287. It pulled the last commercial steam train on French tracks on September 24, 1975 between Gray and Sainte-Colombe.

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