HJ2616 SNCF, X 3800 "Picasso" diesel railcar, dark red and grey livery, ep. IIIb

The X 3800 ‘Picasso’ railcars

The X 3800 series of railcars is one of the SNCF's largest series of unified railcars, developed by the SNCF's ‘Division d'études des autorails de la traction thermique’ (DEA) in 1947.

The X 3800 railcar, known as the unified 300hp railcar and nicknamed the ‘Picasso’ railcar, is a series of diesel bogie railcars operated by the SNCF between 1950 and 1981. 251 of these railcars, easily recognisable by their raised side kiosk, were built in several sub-series by three different manufacturers: Régie Nationale des Usines Renault (RNUR), De Dietrich and Ateliers de Construction du Nord de la France (ANF).

They were usually fitted out in second class, had 62 seats and could run as a twin and/or with a trailer. They were powered by Renault type 517 G engines (rated at 300 bhp, later increased to 340 bhp) or type 575 engines (rated at 360 bhp), or Saurer type BZDS engines (rated at 320 bhp), the latter manufactured under licence by Société des Forges et Ateliers du Creusot (SFAC). They were nicknamed ‘Picasso’ because of their off-centre driver's cab, the shape of which was not in harmony with that of the body, reminiscent of the face paintings by Pablo Picasso, where the eyes and nose were completely out of line.

The X 3800 ‘Picasso’ series was replaced by the Eléments Automoteurs Doubles (EAD) family. At the end of their career, some rare examples, such as the X 3828, had their roofs painted red. Their reliability and rusticity, as well as their distinctive lines with the driving position in the kiosk, are all assets that have led to their preservation: several examples have been preserved and are operated by tourist railways.