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Philou
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Hi chums,

 

For all those who may live or be on holiday in the general area of Langres (Haute Marne (52)) and may be interested in steam locos, SNCF K8 231 (4-6-2 tender loco ex-PLM) will be arriving at Culmont-Chalindrey station (Paris-Bâle mainline No4) at 13.00hrs on 1st November. The loco will then be shedded at the roundhouse adjoining the station. (Why or what it's pulling, I have no idea).

 

The Hon. Chairman (Patrick Deroche) of my club, Rotonde 52, is on shed duty that day and there will be limited access to get a closer look at the loco (but don't tell him I said so ;) ). I'll be there with the grand kids.

 

post-32476-0-47264900-1540327854_thumb.jpg

 

Photo by: Didier Duforest - Travail Personnel CC BY-SA 4.0

 

This is a photo of THE loco (and I hope I've done the acknowledgment correctly as per the Wikimedia request).

 

Cheers,

 

Philip

Edited by Philou
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I was on that train!!!! Failed between first and second dinner sitting, long wait for us as we were on the second sitting. Arrived in Paris at about 2:45 (AM)

 

Terry

So was I  - but we did at least discover that GdN is quite pleasant at that time of night - all the rabble usually hanging about had drifted away by then.

 

My personal favourite 231 K8 late arrival was at Marseilles on the Mediterranean Steam Express, it was joined for the climb across the Massif Central  by a mechanical stoker 141R which should have offered a bit of extra grunt, if only they hadn't bought a support coach, two coaches of french punters and a coal wagon with them - both loco's repeatedly slipped to a stand and we were many hours late into Marseilles - I had looked up the hotel on Trip Advisor and decided to stay on the train to the bitter end, a good choice because the hotel was just as bad as the reviews made out!! 

 

Jon

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I may have been behind the loco in the mid-fifties. I have a dim memory of doing the Dover-Calais train ferry when I was about five years old and being shunted into the bowels of the ferry - I was impressed. It would have probably been the Golden Arrow/Flêche d'Or service as it was a sleeper train.

 

Cheers,

 

Philip

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The sleeper train was the Night Ferry and ran to Dunkerque rather than Calais.

 

Dunkerque was electrified much earlier than Calais so, apart from a short shunt from port to main station (probably a 62000 diesel), I think that you may have been behind a 16000 for the French part of the journey.

Edited by Joseph_Pestell
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@Joseph_Pestell

 

Ah well there you go! I remembered after writing the previous message that I was only three at the time and it was entering the bowels of the ferry that left its impression on me, therefore in 1953. Definitely night-time too, for as soon as the ship set sail, it was off to bed for me.

 

The only other time that I remember being steam hauled - despite the knitting being in place - and it was when I was a young teenager and all alone (those were the days in about 1964), was from Le Havre to St Lazare. First train out of the day at about 8 or 8.30am after being turfed off the Southampton ferry at about 7.00am.

 

I did also get hauled once in a RTG between St Lazare and Dieppe on a return leg - I was about 8 at the time (but with my french grand-mère). That was to connect with the night ferry to Newhaven.

 

I'll stop there, otherwise I'll be hijacking my own thread!!

 

Cheers,

 

Philip

 

Edit: Avoiding an embarrassing faux-pas in terminii naming  :fool:

 

(PS: The decision to electrify Paris - Lille wasn't taken until 1954 - it may well have been steam hauled in the early 50's)

Edited by Philou
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If not electric, then yes it would have been steam and a 231K the most likely locomotive.

 

I was 13 by the time I did the Night Ferry in 1970. So much less interesting than in 1953 but still very impressive all that noise as the coaches were shunted down on to the ferry.

 

PS: I had assumed that you were somewhat younger in view of the work you have been taking on at the house. Hope I am still that active in 17 years time.

Edited by Joseph_Pestell
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@Joseph,

 

You're too kind! Unfortunately, I saw an old bloke looking at me in the bathroom mirror the other day - seemingly I've become my own Welsh grand-dad :( !

 

Cheers,

 

Philip

 

PS: Back into the woods this afternoon to finish off the first load. :( :(

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That is a truly beautiful loco. I should stop looking at this forum. Every time I see photos of French steam I’m tempted to get one or two models just to scratch the itch. But then I remember that’s how I got started modelling the Japanese railway. So I resist the temptation. But it’s hard! :)

 

Cheers,

 

mark.

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@sncf231e

 

Très drôle! Das ist Kollosal (mit eine grösse K) geld! It's more than I gave for my car! Blimey, are they trying to give Fulgurex competition?

 

I don't speak or read German (you might have guessed ;) ) but it seemed from the little I could glean it is to be very high spec. I'll .... um .... pass on that one.

 

Cheers,

 

Philip

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                                                                            ******STOP PRESS******

 

I have received this morning an updated schedule for the 231K8. The loco is now arriving at 16:00hrs at Chalindrey and then going to the shed to take on water and dropping some ash (whether it means dropping the fire, I don't know).

 

If you're going to the rotonde, take care as it's a working site - there are diesels taking on fuel from time-to-time.

 

Please be discreet and look out for yourselves and others.

 

Cheers,

 

Philip

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Hello chums,

 

Well I got to see the beast on Wednesday Thursday with the two grandsons. They were impressed by the sheer size of the thing AND after she had steamed off they were allowed a 'ride' in the cabin of an Infra loco No 622302. They now both want to be engine drivers.

 

The granddaughter didn't want to come but in the end she had the best view of it in full blast. Had I known it was going to pass two miles away from where I live, I might have stayed too! She had a good vantage point from a local supermarket car park that is on higher ground and the line is visible for about a mile or so. Pity it had two diesels attached upfront though.

 

Here are couple of photos (not the best as taken on an old mobile phone). She was looking a bit past her best as it had been a rather wet morning and she'd set out from Paris on her way eventually to Alsace where she is to take part in the 100th anniversary of the Armistice. I thought it was a tad ironical as she would have been too young but more so that her maker's plate was 'Henschel & Sohn'.

 

post-32476-0-07913200-1541344778_thumb.jpg

 

622302 hiding the diesels

 

post-32476-0-88038200-1541344788_thumb.jpg

 

post-32476-0-24973400-1541344806_thumb.jpg

 

post-32476-0-84749000-1541344817_thumb.jpg

 

No wonder the grandsons were impressed - just look how big it is!

 

Cheers,

 

Philip

Edited by Philou
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Hello chums,

 

Well I got to see the beast on Wednesday Thursday with the two grandsons. They were impressed by the sheer size of the thing AND after she had steamed off they were allowed a 'ride' in the cabin of an Infra loco No 622302. They now both want to be engine drivers.

 

The granddaughter didn't want to come but in the end she had the best view of it in full blast. Had I known it was going to pass two miles away from where I live, I might have stayed too! She had a good vantage point from a local supermarket car park that is on higher ground and the line is visible for about a mile or so. Pity it had two diesels attached upfront though.

 

Here are couple of photos (not the best as taken on an old mobile phone). She was looking a bit past her best as it had been a rather wet morning and she'd set out from Paris on her way eventually to Alsace where she is to take part in the 100th anniversary of the Armistice. I thought it was a tad ironical as she would been too young but more so that her maker's plate was 'Henschel & Sohn'.

 

Edit: Duplicate statement - sorry;

Edited by Philou
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  • 2 weeks later...
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Just found this thread and lovely to see the loco and 22302.   I saw K8 in the shed at Orleans, Les Aubrais one evening in the early 90's. (I think). We were travelling south with the caravan and I had a deal with the boss that if I did all the towing she would let me have half an hour's trainspotting on an evening.  As I planned the route it was an amazing coincidence that there was usually some railway interest near each stop.  Anyway I went down to Les Aubrais and was allowed to wander round the yard getting numbers.   As I went back to the office to say thanks, there was a flurry of activity and someone mentioned that the shedmaster had just arrived.  I thought that I was in trouble but it appeared that he had asked if the 'Anglais' had seen their steamer.  The answer was no so an underling was despatched for a key and I was escorted up to the wagon repair shop, the doors were opened and there was K8.  It had apparently suffered a hot box or something similar and was awaiting repair using their wheel drop.  It was hidden behind two diesel shunters and I couldn't get a photo.  Pas de probleme, the two miscreants were fired up and driven out of the shed, and another pair of doors were opened.  I just had enough evening sunlight to get a photo.   I'll have to dig the side out and scan it and post it.  

 

Then last week I went tot the show at Orleans (We moved to France this year) and was on the station at Les Aubrais trainspotting on the Friday evening.  I got talking to two French guys who turned out to be retired Cheminots from near Grenoble (I think) .   Talkig to them about my previous trip to Les Aubrais they immediately mentioned K8.   It's good to see that it's still going strong.

 

Jamie 

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