If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

Metre-Gauge Railways in Provence

Discussion in 'International Heritage Railways/Tramways' started by Roger Farnworth, Mar 24, 2018.

  1. ilvaporista

    ilvaporista Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jan 16, 2006
    Messages:
    4,240
    Likes Received:
    5,291
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    C.Eng
    Location:
    On the 45th!
    More reading material for the next long flight, many thanks!
     
  2. Roger Farnworth

    Roger Farnworth Member

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2018
    Messages:
    522
    Likes Received:
    343
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Ashton -under-Lyne
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    This next post relates to a different line - the Nice to Digne metre-gauge line. This line is the only one of the metre-gauge lines near Nice toremain open. Despite a chequered history its future now seems relatively secure. This is the first post about this line. I have travelled on it a few times in recent years and will do again when we are in Nice once more. It has seen some dramatic improvements in the permanent way and rolling stock in the past 5 or so years.

    https://rogerfarnworth.wordpress.co...ins-part-1-nice-chemins-de-fer-de-provence-57
     
  3. Roger Farnworth

    Roger Farnworth Member

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2018
    Messages:
    522
    Likes Received:
    343
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Ashton -under-Lyne
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
  4. Roger Farnworth

    Roger Farnworth Member

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2018
    Messages:
    522
    Likes Received:
    343
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Ashton -under-Lyne
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
  5. Roger Farnworth

    Roger Farnworth Member

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2018
    Messages:
    522
    Likes Received:
    343
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Ashton -under-Lyne
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
  6. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2006
    Messages:
    16,510
    Likes Received:
    7,753
    Location:
    1012 / 60158
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
  7. Roger Farnworth

    Roger Farnworth Member

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2018
    Messages:
    522
    Likes Received:
    343
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Ashton -under-Lyne
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    The video is great. I hope you also enjoyed the supporting information about that length of the line.
     
    Martin Perry likes this.
  8. Roger Farnworth

    Roger Farnworth Member

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2018
    Messages:
    522
    Likes Received:
    343
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Ashton -under-Lyne
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    A few people have asked me whether I plan to publish a book, or books, about the Metre-Gauge Railways of Provence. I thought that I might see what was involved in punishing an eBook .... As a first step, I have tried to design a cover for what might be a book about the Central Var line. I have published a series of posts on that line on this Group.

    So here are two questions for you ....

    If I was to do so, would you be interested in buying a copy and what might you pay?

    And ............... What do you think to this as a cover? Might it entice you to buy the book, knowing what you already do about the content?

    https://rogerfarnworth.wordpress.com/2018/04/14/an-ebook-on-les-chemins-de-fer-du-sud-de-la-france 20180414_091815_0001.jpg
     
  9. Johnb

    Johnb Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2014
    Messages:
    14,318
    Likes Received:
    16,396
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired, best job I've ever had
    Location:
    Buckinghamshire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    This is a fascinating thread, given me so much to look out for on my next holiday in S France. I have visited the Nice- Digne Line a few times for the steam. I don't know if these will be of interest

    IMG_0730.JPG IMG_0731.JPG IMG_0732.JPG IMG_0733.JPG IMG_0734.JPG IMG_0735.JPG
     
  10. Roger Farnworth

    Roger Farnworth Member

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2018
    Messages:
    522
    Likes Received:
    343
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Ashton -under-Lyne
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Fantastic pictures 'JohnB' did you take these yourself?
     
  11. Roger Farnworth

    Roger Farnworth Member

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2018
    Messages:
    522
    Likes Received:
    343
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Ashton -under-Lyne
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Hello,

    I am pondering converting my blog into an online book. This might prove of interest to people. I have produced the first few chapters of the book I am imagining. They are at the moment missing a contents page and and editorial page but I'd appreciate comments on whether the book might be worth publishing on line and whether you think it should be free or charged for?

    If you are interested, please follow this link via my blog:

    https://rogerfarnworth.wordpress.com/2018/04/14/an-ebook-on-les-chemins-de-fer-du-sud-de-la-france/

    Best wishes

    Roger
     
  12. Roger Farnworth

    Roger Farnworth Member

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2018
    Messages:
    522
    Likes Received:
    343
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Ashton -under-Lyne
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
  13. Roger Farnworth

    Roger Farnworth Member

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2018
    Messages:
    522
    Likes Received:
    343
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Ashton -under-Lyne
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    The next length of the journey along the Nice to Digne railway line starts at La Manda and takes us to Plan du Var, where the TAM formed a junction with the Nice to Digne line. The TAM operated the line from Plan du Var to St. Martin Vesubie.

    https://rogerfarnworth.wordpress.com/2018/07/08/nice-to-digne-les-bains-part-3-la-manda-to-plan-du-var-chemins-de-fer-de-provence-63

     
  14. Roger Farnworth

    Roger Farnworth Member

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2018
    Messages:
    522
    Likes Received:
    343
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Ashton -under-Lyne
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    In the last post we noted that there was a short-lived tramway which left the Nice to Digne line at Plan du Var. It travelled up the Valley of the River Vesubie as far as St. Martin Vesubie.

    https://rogerfarnworth.wordpress.com/2018/07/10/tam-tramway-from-plan-du-var-to-st-martin-vesubie-revisited-chemins-de-fer-de-provence-64

     
  15. Roger Farnworth

    Roger Farnworth Member

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2018
    Messages:
    522
    Likes Received:
    343
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Ashton -under-Lyne
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    This is the next stage of the journey up the Valley of the River Var on the Nice to Digne metre-gauge railway:

    https://rogerfarnworth.wordpress.com/2018/07/12/nice-to-digne-les-bains-part-4-plan-du-var-to-la-mescla-chemins-de-fer-de-provence-65

     
  16. Roger Farnworth

    Roger Farnworth Member

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2018
    Messages:
    522
    Likes Received:
    343
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Ashton -under-Lyne
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    This post covers another short-lived tramway which provided a service up the valley of l'Esteron from Pont Charles Albert over the River Var to Roquesteron, a distance of more than 20 kilometres.

    https://rogerfarnworth.wordpress.com/2018/07/16/tam-tramway-in-the-valley-of-the-river-esteron-revisited-chemins-de-fer-de-provence-66

     
  17. Roger Farnworth

    Roger Farnworth Member

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2018
    Messages:
    522
    Likes Received:
    343
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Ashton -under-Lyne
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Another of the branch tramways left the Nice to Digne line close to La Mescla Station and travelled up the valley of La Tinee.

    https://rogerfarnworth.wordpress.com/2018/07/18/tam-tramway-from-la-mescla-to-saint-sauveur-sur-tinee-revisited-chemins-de-fer-de-provence-67

    The available imagery from the time of the tramway is limited in extent and is supplemented by images from later dates.
     
  18. Roger Farnworth

    Roger Farnworth Member

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2018
    Messages:
    522
    Likes Received:
    343
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Ashton -under-Lyne
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    The next length of the line from Nice to Digne takes us from La Mescla to Le Pont de Gueydan. It is at Le Pont de Gueydan that the line leaves the banks of the River Var and follows one of its tributaries.

    https://rogerfarnworth.wordpress.com/2018/07/21/nice-to-digne-les-bains-part-5-la-mescla-to-le-pont-de-gueydan-chemins-de-fer-de-provence-68

    Although I have travelled on this line a number of times, I have only once travelled beyond Entrevaux and that was in 2001. So looking at the line in 2018, I am almost in virgin territory by the end of this post!
     
  19. Johnb

    Johnb Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2014
    Messages:
    14,318
    Likes Received:
    16,396
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired, best job I've ever had
    Location:
    Buckinghamshire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Just catching up with this fascinating thread soma bit late but yes I did take them myself. I've visited the line several times when we have beenon holiday in St Tropez and this was the last time I went and the first time after I had converted to digital photography. Plan to next year armed with the information you have provided I will be on the lookout for the remains of many line sthat I didn't know existed in the region.
     
  20. Roger Farnworth

    Roger Farnworth Member

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2018
    Messages:
    522
    Likes Received:
    343
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Ashton -under-Lyne
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    New territory for me. The now removed TAM tramway from Pont de Gueydan to Guillaumes up Les Gorges de Daluis .....

    https://rogerfarnworth.wordpress.com/2018/07/25/tam-tramway-from-le-pont-de-gueydan-to-guillaumes-chemins-de-fer-de-provence-69

    One of the bridges on this route has the distinction of being one of the earliest reinforced concrete arch structures in France.
     

Share This Page