Les Trains du Col de Tende

Part 1

The railway from Nice PLM Station to Tende and Cuneo was completed in 1928. It was long in the gestation and in construction. The story stretches back more than a century and a half. ‘Le Chemin de fer du Col de Tende’ is historically a significant local and international line. Its inverted Y-shaped layout and its crossing of international borders means that it is known by a number of different names:

- in Nice it is known as the Nice – Coni Line;

- generally in Italy it is officially Ferrovia Cuneo Ventimiglia

- in the Piedmont city of Cuneo’s economic/political circles, sitting at the top of the inverted ‘Y’, it is often referred to as the Cuneo – Nizza line in recognition of good relations with the community of Nice.

http://rogerfarnworth.com/2025/07/22/the-railway-from-nice-to-tende-and-cuneo-part-1

 

Jogs many memories of trips along the line.
Thanks for taking the time to write this.

 

An aside from Les Trains du Col de Tende

Scotte Steam-powered Road Trains

I first came across the Scotte Steam-powered vehicles while following the story of Les Trains du Col de Tende...

Société des Chaudières et Voitures à Vapeur système Scotte was a French manufacturer of steam-powered trucks, tractors, and omnibuses in Paris from 1893 to circa. 1914. The company also built the Train Scotte, an early road train for passenger or freight transport.

I first encountered the Train Scotte when reading about the Cuneo-Ventimiglia-Nice international railway line in a book by Jose Banaudo, Michel Braun and Gerard de Santos; Les Trains du Col de Tende Volume 1: 1858-1928. [2] The partial opening of the that railway from Cuneo to Vievola in October 1900 left travellers heading for the Mediterranean in the middle of nowhere!

http://rogerfarnworth.com/2025/07/2...ered-road-vehicles-scotte-steam-road-vehicles

An experimental steam road train was trialled on the roads from Vievola to Ventimiglia. It was supplied by Société des Chaudières et Voitures à Vapeur système Scotte.

 

Part 2

In the first article about the line from Cuneo to the sea we covered the length from Cuneo to Vernante. This article covers the next length of the line from Vernante to Limone.

The Line South from Vernante to Limone



A schematic drawing showing the main locations on the line from Vernante to Limone.

We start this next length of the journey at Vernante Railway Station and head Southeast.

http://rogerfarnworth.com/2025/07/26/the-railway-from-nice-to-tende-and-cuneo-part-2/

 

The Railway between Nice, Tende and Cuneo – Part 3 – Vievola to St. Dalmas de Tende

http://rogerfarnworth.com/2025/08/0...d-cuneo-part-3-vievola-to-st-dalmas-de-tende/

Our journey South down the line continues from Vievola. …

 

That's the really interesting bit! It's quite a journey.
I loved the heritage experience on the special train run by Fondazione FS.
My wife prefers the modern trains as the seats are more comfortable and the windows much larger.

 

We have stayed a few times in the village of Saorge and watch the trains running along the far side of the valley from our small balcony.

 

Part 4 - South from St. Dalmas de Tende

The featured image in the linked article is a poster for the Nice-Cuneo line. It shows Scarassoui Viaduct with a Northbound steam service between the wars, designed by Adolphe Crossard, © Public Domain.

In the first three articles about the line from Cuneo to the sea we covered the length of the line from Cuneo to St. Dalmas de Tende. In the linked article we head South from St. Dalmas de Tende.

http://rogerfarnworth.com/2025/08/1...-part-4-st-dalmas-de-tende-to-breil-sur-roya/

 

Part 5 - Breil-sur-Roya to Airole and Ventimiglia

This article follows the line South from Breil-sur-Roya to Ventimiglia in two parts: the first as far as Airole and the second from Airole to Ventimiglia. ….

http://rogerfarnworth.com/2025/08/2...d-cuneo-part-5-breil-sur-roya-to-ventimiglia/

 

Part 6 – Breil-sur-Roya to L’Escarene.

The featured image in the linked article shows an unidentified steam locomotive crossing the highly unusual Viaduc de Bevera. The train is heading toward Sospel.

The article begins the journey from Breil-sur-Roya to Nice. ... South of Breil-sur-Roya a junction allows direct access to Ventimiglia and to Nice.

http://rogerfarnworth.com/2025/08/2...and-cuneo-part-6-breil-sur-roya-to-lescarene/

 

Part 7 – L’Escarene to Drap-Cantaron Railway Station.

This article begins the journey from L’Escarene.

Initially, the line heads Southeast but then gradually turns to the the Southwest through Peille, Peillon and Drap before running into Nice.

http://rogerfarnworth.com/2025/09/2...-7-lescarene-to-drap-cantaron-railway-station

 

The Railway between Nice, Tende and Cuneo – Part 8 – Drap-Cantaron Railway Station to Nice.

The featured image is a postcard view of la Trinite-Victor Railway Station in the very early years after the line opened.

In the first seven articles about the line from Cuneo to the sea we covered the length of the line from Cuneo to Breil-sur-Roya and then to Ventimiglia, before beginning to look at the line between Breil-sur-Roya and Nice.

Woven into the text below are a series of stills from a video of the train journey from Breil-sur-Roya to Nice. The video can be seen here. [4]

This article begins the journey from Drap-Cantaron Railway Station.

http://rogerfarnworth.com/2025/10/0...part-8-drap-cantaron-railway-station-to-nice/