Paris-Orléans E 701 to 720

In 1934, the Paris-Orléans received three electric express locomotive prototypes with the numbers E 701, E 702 and E 704. The all had the wheel arrangement 2-D-2 or 2'Do2', but differences in detail. They had either four double motors or two triple motors. The special form of their noses led to the nickname “Pregnant Women”. In some details they were similar to the E 538 to E 545 (later later 2D2 5500), which had been introduce a little earlier.

In 1938 and 1939, a series of 16 locomotives with the numbers E 705 to E 720 followed. It didn't take long until the SNCF renumbered them 2D2 5104 to 5120. Their top speed soon had to be reduced from 130 to 110 km/h due to insufficient running characteristics. They were used on the line between Paris and Bordeaux. Later they also came to other lines and were used for trains other than expresses due to the introduction of newer locomotives. Their retirement occurred between 1967 and 1969.