Narrow-gauge railways of France

Main article: Rail transport in France

The French National Railways used to run a considerable number of 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge lines, a few of which still operate mostly in tourist areas, such as the St Gervais-Vallorcine (Alps) and the "Petit Train Jaune" (little yellow train) in the Pyrenees. The original French scheme was that every sous-prefecture should be rail connected. Extensive 600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in) gauge lines were also built for the sugar-beet industry in the north often using ex-military equipment after the First World War. Decauville was a famous French manufacturer of industrial narrow-gauge railway equipment and equipped one of the most extensive regional 600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in) narrow-gauge railway, the Chemins de fer du Calvados. Corsica has a narrow-gauge network of two lines following the coast line, that are connected by one line crossing the island through highly mountainous terrain. The petit train d'Artouste, a tourist line in the Pyrenees, uses 500 mm (19+3⁄4 in) gauge.

Narrow-gauge funiculars

1,300 mm (4 ft 3+3⁄16 in)

1,200 mm (3 ft 11+1⁄4 in)

1,100 mm (3 ft 7+5⁄16 in)

600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in)

1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in)

A Chemins de Fer de Provence train at Gare de Nice CP.

750 mm (2 ft 5+1⁄2 in)

700 mm (2 ft 3+9⁄16 in)

600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in)

500 mm (19+3⁄4 in)

400 mm (15+3⁄4 in)

  • Train de l'Andorge en Cevennes

See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ "Trams of the World 2017" (PDF). Blickpunkt Straßenbahn. January 24, 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 16, 2017. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
  2. ^ Image of Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat funicular
  3. ^ Le bulletin du CFVO
  4. ^ Le Chemin de Fer de Saint-Eutrope
  5. ^ France's historic train routes
  6. ^ Towing tramways

Bibliography

  • Organ, John (1999). Vivarais Narrow Gauge: featuring Mallets in the Massif. Narrow Gauge Branch Lines series. Midhurst, West Sussex, UK: Middleton Press. ISBN 1901706311.
  • Organ, John (2000). Southern France Narrow Gauge. Narrow Gauge Branch Lines series. Midhurst, West Sussex, UK: Middleton Press. ISBN 1901706478.
  • Organ, John (2002). Northern France Narrow Gauge. Narrow Gauge Branch Lines series. Midhurst, West Sussex, UK: Middleton Press. ISBN 1901706753.
  • Organ, John (2007). Vivarais Revisited: featuring the Ardèche and Haute-Loire regions. Narrow Gauge Branch Lines series. Midhurst, West Sussex, UK: Middleton Press. ISBN 9781906008086.
  • Organ, John (2014). Majorca and Corsica Narrow Gauge. Narrow Gauge Branch Lines series. Midhurst, West Sussex, UK: Middleton Press. ISBN 9781908174413.

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