The 141 R were ordered by France from the United States in 1340 units divided into two sub-series (141R 1 to 700 and 701 to 1340) with coal or fuel heating in order to make up for the cruel lack of locomotives at the end of the Second World War. Delivered in 1323 units (17 machines and their tenders having been lost in the wreck of the cargo ship carrying them) from November 1945, they were greatly appreciated by SNCF engineers for their robustness and comfort of use for the time. Present on all the regions of the SNCF these machines carried out a mixed service passengers/freight until 1974, their removal coinciding with the total disappearance of steam traction in commercial service at the SNCF.