SNCF X 3800 Diesel Railcar III

SNCF X 3800 Diesel Railcar III

1:87 scale model produced by Jouef. This model is ready-to-run straight out of the box and would make a excellent addition to any model railway collection.

Features:

• Best suited to Epoch III Model Railways
• Decorated in SNCF company markings
• Best suited to 356mm radius curves
• Flywheel Fitted
• Close Coupler

Details

The SNCF Class X 3800 was a class of diesel railcars built for the Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français between 1950 and 1961. A total of 251 units were produced, numbered X 3801–X 4051, to provide reliable and economical service on secondary and rural lines across the French rail network. They were powered by diesel engines with mechanical transmission and could reach a top speed of about 120 km/h.

The X 3800s are instantly recognisable by their elevated, off-centre control cabin, a distinctive design feature that led railway fans to nickname them “Picassos” because the cab looked as offset and abstract as a Picasso painting. These railcars could operate singly or haul unpowered trailers, and their reversibility made them practical for branch-line duties without turning facilities.

The class remained in service across France into the 1980s, with withdrawals through the late 1970s and 1980s as newer multiple units replaced them. Several examples survive in preservation on heritage railways and in museums, where they continue to delight enthusiasts.