From French (SNCF) steam loco 141R 762. After the second world war, French railways needed considerable refurbishment, and 1,340 141R class locomotives were ordered from Canada and the U.S. All the locos were shipped to France between August 1945 and the end of 1947.
The back of the plate is marked "BLS", indicating Baldwin Locomotive Works, U.S.A.
141 indicates the wheel arrangement, 1 leading axle, 4 driving wheel axles and 1 trailing axle. The British equivalent (Whyte system) would be 2-8-2.
Cast brass (some were cast iron).