JAMIE'S RANDOM FRENCH RAILWAY PHOTOS

[jamie92208]

Good evening all from a sunny but cool Charente.   However the Tardis is still in Thionville on 9th August 1992.  

One last one from That visit showing a locotractuer of I think the Y2400 class on the turntable.

That was the last French loco that I saw that holiday as we then headed into Germany and Belgium before coming home.  I'll put those photos in a future thread on more general European trains as I've got quite a few of Italy, Spain, Portugal and the Benelux countries plus Germany.   

 

Anyway we managed to get home safely despite me losing my passport.  I had a scrappy bit of paper issued by the Consulate in Nice, that got me through.

 

In 1993 we headed back to France and crossed on the High Speed Catamaran and our first night was spent near Creil, north of Paris., where a 16000 is heading north from the Gare Du Nord.

A classmate in the green livery followed it.  We were invited into the Signal Box which had Saxby and Farmer equipment.

Then two types of suburban stock, an Inox set and a Z 20500 RER working.   The first time I went to Paris in 67 these services were worked by 141T's.

The next day the 27th of July we negotiated the Peripherique and got into the Loire valley, Here I think we were between Blois and Amboise and a 25500, IIRC is heading a passenger working.

Then a double headed northbound freight behind 9340 and 7220.

I'm glad I've looked at these as I'd obviously not recorded either number but thanks to the wonders of digital enlargement have been able to read both numbers.

 

More tomorrow all being well.

 

 

Jamie

Edited August 10, 2022 by jamie92208

[jamie92208]

Good evening again.  It's still 1993 and we are in Creil north of Paris. The light was drawing in as a 16000 came north. This got missed from last nights somehow and is out of order, wrist duly slapped.

After an overnight stop near Poitiers we drove south past Bordeaux and parked on a site near Sanguinet south of Arcachon.   The line down to the Spanish border wasn't far away and here a 9200 heads north under the very distinctive Midi Catenary.

Next was a TGV Atlantique. This stretch is where the French set their world speed records with locos in IIRC the 1950's.

These photos were all taken in early August 1993.

Next up was one of the iconic 65XX Co Co, I think these are rated at about 8000Hp.

Then an 8500 on a freight.

And finally a few days later two more 8500's overpowering a very short freight heading north..

More tomorrow.

 

Above captions edited with corrections thanks to brushman

Jamie

 

Edited August 10, 2022 by jamie92208

[brushman47544]

On 21/03/2021 at 18:03, jamie92208 said:

Good evening again.  It's still 1993 and we are in Creil north of Paris. The light was drawing in as another 17000 came north. This got missed from last nights somehow and is out of order, wrist duly slapped.

 

Then a 9200 on a freight.

And finally a few days later two more 92oo's overpowering a very short freight heading north.

More tomorrow.

Jamie

Sorry Jamie but some incorrect loco identification. In Creil, that’s a BB16000 on the corail stock. The 67400 and RIO(?) alongside set are on a service to Beauvais. At that date, I think those services were mostly hauled by 66400s in which case the 67400 would have been unusual.

 

In the other two photos, the locos are BB8500s, not 9200s.

 

Keep the photos coming please.

[jamie92208]

Good evening again, and a bight and sunny one it is.  The Tardis is still parked at Sanguinet in 1993. First 9247 heads north with what looks like a cereal train on 7th August.

Followed by a TGV A set.  All these are headed towards Bordeaux from Hendaye and Dax.

And another TGV set at one of the intermediate stations somewhere south of Facture.

And then 2 days later X 2245 heads north, probably from Mont de Marsan. 

And Z 7349 on the 13th August again heading north.

Then the holiday was over and we headed north ourselves. We stopped north of Orleans at the southern terminus of a branch of Line D of the RER.   I really must get my Atlas out so that I can Identify these locations.  Another cop for me tonight when I checked this slide with 63055 hiding behind the stabled Inox coaches.

Jamie

 

 

Edited August 10, 2022 by jamie92208

[jamie92208]

Good evening , some more from Etampes just south of Paris on the PO main line.  Here it's 3 tracks and there were plenty of expresses coming through. The Tardis is till parked on 14th August 1993. Here what I think is 6524 hurries through.

Closely followed by 6508 with another express.  I think that these are probably the best looking of the Nez Casse classes.

Etampes is nearly the termonus of one of the branches of the RER, a short branch line leaves the main line here to head south to the terminus.  Here is one of the RER workings.

The next day we got as far as Amiens and I was allowed my usual 30 minutes by the tracks in return for doing the driving.  The boys and I headed down and 16107 was heading towards Paris.

You'll not be surprised that we wandered down to the depot and  we were allowed around to see what was there.  Lots of 16000 and 17000 locos along with some 12000 flat irons.

Two very happy young men were allowed into the cab of 12137.

Jamie

 

 

 

 

Edited August 10, 2022 by jamie92208

[jamie92208]

Good afternoon again.   The Tardis is still in Amiens depot 15th August 1993. We start with an interior shot of the cab of a 12137

It certainly looks it's age.

Then 67608.

These were what greeted passengers at Calais and Boulougne for many years then more diesels

And the line up of electrics from the other viewpoint.

For us it ws back home to Yorkshire after that.   My next visit was a trip to Paris in 1994, courtesy of an offer from Vodafone for buying one of their bricks for my other half.  I still use the number that came with it. The offer included  a free flight to Paris so I was allowed to head off for an overnight stop.  in May 1994.  My first photographic stop was at Villeneuve St George where an RER service was heading towards the Gare de Lyon.

Charolais depot was still in use with a good selection of traction outside. 67202 in the right foreground means that it was the 14th May.

More tomorrow I hope.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 10, 2022 by jamie92208

[JeffP]

Depots in France were still very friendly places right up to around 2002 when we bought our property and all activities other than gardening or renovations came to an end for me. Sigh.

One son was invited into the cab of a TGV at Nice, the other had a brief ride in a 72000 at Nevers, onto and off the turntable, then allowed to press the button to stop the motor.

Only places I was refused entry were Venissieux, Paris Chatillon and the one that served Paris Gare de l'Est.

Got guided tours round most.

Happy days.

Favourite place was probably Miramas.

There, the number of loco hauled trains had to be seen to be believed, often two freights arriving from the south at once!

And loco hauled expresses through at 100mph.

Plus a nice depot and even a museum...sadly now gone.

 

Forgot to say: first depot I went round was Avignon.

We could not find it and ended up at a wagon repair depot.

I asked there for directions, and one of the blokes offered to guide us to it in his SNCF van.

I asked if he was going and he replied, "I am now."

Compare that with being told to F-off before I could even ask permission at Bath Road.

The French seemed to have so much more pride in their Railways.

Edited March 24, 2021 by JeffP
To add a reminiscence

[Fat Controller]

I've generally found SNCF staff polite and helpful; the problem is that security has been sub-contracted out to an organisation called SUGE over the last twenty years or so. They tend to throw their weight around, even with SNCF staff; amongst other stories I've heard are of them arresting a driver who had been stopped at a closed signal, and descended to have a leak. SUGE claimed this offended public decency, and arrested him, despite it being on railway property at 02:00. On another occasion, they gave a beating to a carriage-cleaner on the platform at Gare du Nord during the rush-hour, then started on one of the police who'd been called.

[jamie92208]

3 hours ago, Fat Controller said:

I've generally found SNCF staff polite and helpful; the problem is that security has been sub-contracted out to an organisation called SUGE over the last twenty years or so. They tend to throw their weight around, even with SNCF staff; amongst other stories I've heard are of them arresting a driver who had been stopped at a closed signal, and descended to have a leak. SUGE claimed this offended public decency, and arrested him, despite it being on railway property at 02:00. On another occasion, they gave a beating to a carriage-cleaner on the platform at Gare du Nord during the rush-hour, then started on one of the police who'd been called.

I suspect that starting on a French Police Officer would be a bad decision.. Sadly I have had some bad encounters with private 'security ' staff in Britain. As you can probably tell from the places that I got into they were invariably helpful and polite.

 

Jamie

 

 

 

 

 

[jamie92208]

Good evening from a still slightly sunny Charente.  The Tardis is still parked firmly at Gare de Lyon. It's 14th May 1994. I was still going around Charolais depot. This Sybic, 26022, was waiting  by the shed entrance.

For me, the star sighting of the day was 2D2 9135 parked in the roundhouse. This s preserved and one of the locos that was built for the PLM main line in 1951.

To the right of it 6509 was parked.

And to the left, 6527 and a pair of 72XX's.

Heading past the signal box into the station was 6540, one of the Maurienne locos that used to be equipped with 3rd rail pick up for the section up to St Jean de Maurienne, still in the original green livery.

Finally a 7200 waiting to depart. 

More tomorrow I hope.

 

Jamie

 

 

Edited August 11, 2022 by jamie92208

[JeffP]

I must have followed in your footsteps, also having photos of Paris Charolais, albeit with no C-C6500's.

The 2-D-2 was present.

Charolais depot now being closed, I wonder where that loco is now?

 

I noticed the museum area at Miramas is now gone with the buildings flattened and a road across where the turntable was.

Can't find out where the stock went.

They had a couple of Y2400 shunters, a B-B 4200, a B-B 4700 and a B-B 300.

There was also a C-C 7100 there.

 

Did you get into Charolais by walking off the end of the platform?

When I went the yellow TGV Postale half set was next door, but not photographable.

 

[jamie92208]

1 hour ago, JeffP said:

I must have followed in your footsteps, also having photos of Paris Charolais, albeit with no C-C6500's.

The 2-D-2 was present.

Charolais depot now being closed, I wonder where that loco is now?

 

I noticed the museum area at Miramas is now gone with the buildings flattened and a road across where the turntable was.

Can't find out where the stock went.

They had a couple of Y2400 shunters, a B-B 4200, a B-B 4700 and a B-B 300.

There was also a C-C 7100 there.

 

Did you get into Charolais by walking off the end of the platform?

When I went the yellow TGV Postale half set was next door, but not photographable.

 

Yes I just walked off the end of the platform.  The 2D2 9135 is at Laroche-Migennes depot according to the 2017  Platform 5 booklet.  E 4162  whichbwas at Miramas is now at APPAF in Nimes.

 

Jamie

[jamie92208]

Good afternoon.   The Tardis has moved a sort distance from Gare de Lyon to Gare D'Austerlitz.   It's still July 1994. 9208 was sitting by the water tower in the morning sun.

Then 7261 arrived with the overnight Talgo sleeper from Madrid.

With the distinctive converter coach at the south end.

Meantime a parade of power in the form of 2 6500's and a 9200 with I think an 8000 arriving.

That was 8140 coming in for an ECS working.

Meanwhile 9292 and 6574 were near the water tower.

It was shaping up to be a cracking 2 days.

 

Jamie

 

 

 

Edited August 11, 2022 by jamie92208

[Fat Controller]

11 minutes ago, jamie92208 said:

Good afternoon.   The Tardis has moved a sort distance from Gare de Lyon to Gare D'Austerlitz.   It's still July 1994. 9208 was sitting by the water tower in the morning sun.

Then 7261 arrived with the overnight Talgo sleeper from Madrid.

With the distinctive converter coach at the south end.

Meantime a parade of power in the form of 2 6500's and a 9200 with I think an 8000 arriving.

That was 8140 coming in for an ECS working.

Meanwhile 9292 and 6574 were near the water tower.

It was shaping up to be a cracking 2 days.

 

Jamie

 

 

 

No such views at Austerlitz any more; the station area has been covered with a concrete apron, and is really gloomy. What was very odd on my last visit was that many of the station staff were using those Segway things to get about on.

[weave]

Hi Jamie,

 

Newish to the Forum so have spent the morning looking through the whole thread of your lovely pics. Very enjoyable and brought back great memories of travelling around France by train with my late father.

 

Thank you. Just need to check out your Limoges pics next.

 

Cheers, Chris (weave).

 

 

[jamie92208]

1 hour ago, weave said:

Hi Jamie,

 

Newish to the Forum so have spent the morning looking through the whole thread of your lovely pics. Very enjoyable and brought back great memories of travelling around France by train with my late father.

 

Thank you. Just need to check out your Limoges pics next.

 

Cheers, Chris (weave).

 

 

Thanks for the kind comment Chris. Glad that you are enjoying them. I'm enjoying posting them.

 

Jamie

[jamie92208]

Good afternoon from a warm and sunny Charente. After an afternoon working on the new chicken run, aka Cluckingham Palace, It's time to see where the Tardis is.  It's still at Gare D'Austerlitz on 14th May 1994. A real survivor, BB305 from 1938/39.

Then down to Paris Sud Ouest and a real feast for the eyes a line up of mainly Midi railway locos from 1933 ish. From L to R 4756, 4747, 8237 4760 and 4754

On the other side of the traverser, 6502 and BB 319, what a difference 40 years makes.

And hidden at the back BB 4206 n even earlier survivor from the Midi based on the Newport Shildon NER Bo Bo's,

Then down to Villenueve Triage and a walk down the long lane to Villeneuve St George. The roundhouse was in use with a 7200, 8131 and 6532 plus a n other. They were quite happy to just let me wander around.

Then a nice line up of 7416 and 7158 plus, I think a 9200.

What a nice way to spend a morning.

 

Jamie

 

 

Edited August 11, 2022 by jamie92208

[brushman47544]

Spent a long weekend in Lyon around the same time and SNCF was still using BB3xx locos for ecs moves to and from Perrrache.

 

Looks like BB7253 in the photo with BB4206 and in the last photo it’s either a 9200 or possibly a BB9300. Can’t say I can tell the difference.

[jamie92208]

1 hour ago, brushman47544 said:

Spent a long weekend in Lyon around the same time and SNCF was still using BB3xx locos for ecs moves to and from Perrrache.

 

Looks like BB7253 in the photo with BB4206 and in the last photo it’s either a 9200 or possibly a BB9300. Can’t say I can tell the difference.

yes I remember  driving down through Lyon with plenty of traffic jams and getting, IIRC 10 numbers in thevprocess invluding a couplevof 300's at Perache.

 

Jamie

[jamie92208]

Good morning from a sunny Charente.  The Tardis is still in Paris on 15th May 1994. By now it's Sunday afternoon and time to start heading back to the airport so I'd got to the northern side of the city. I had an unsuccessful attempt to get round La Chappelle depot but had some interesting propositions from the 'ladies' on the pavement.  Anyway I then headed for Gare du Nord and found these two locos at the platform end. 16028 and 40101.  The latter, one of the 4 voltage locos to work almost anywhere in northern Europe, Germany, Netherlands, France and Belgium.   A development of the 222XX but very long, over 22m, which gave hem a somewhat strange appearance side on.

40106 was heading back to go on a train to Brussels.

And one of the Belgian batch, B1806 was in the station.

Then it was goodbye to Paris and back to West Yorkshire via Manchester.   However 1 couple of weeks later we took the caravan down to a site on Romney Marsh.  Of course we had to visit Dollands Moor and what should be there but 2 Yellow submarines, a pair of the modified 222XX's that worked the first through freight trains until the 92's were in service.  Here are 22403 and 22379 in the UK and working.

Our main holiday was in Cornwall that year, due to financial constraints and in 95 we went to the USA but in October 95 my trainspotting mate, Keith, and I did a trainspotting /booze buying trip via the tunnel to Calais. This is 22405 and a 92 on the depot on 18th October 95.  The fencing wasn't quite as extensive as it is now.

We also drove out to Coquelles to see traffic in and out of the tunnel, here a Brush built, with Barnsley built body, Bo-Bo-Bo is heading a freight shuttle into France.

That's it for today folks.

 

Jamie

Edited August 11, 2022 by jamie92208

[Fat Controller]

23 hours ago, brushman47544 said:

Spent a long weekend in Lyon around the same time and SNCF was still using BB3xx locos for ecs moves to and from Perrrache.

 

Looks like BB7253 in the photo with BB4206 and in the last photo it’s either a 9200 or possibly a BB9300. Can’t say I can tell the difference.

The difference between the BB9200 and 9300 is in the type of traction converters used, I believe, so probably isn't visible.

 

[BernardTPM]

1 hour ago, jamie92208 said:

I then headed for Gare du Nord and found these two locos at the platform end. 16028 and 40101.  The latter, one of the 4 voltage locos to wrk almost anywhere in northern Europe, Germany, Netherlands, France and Belgium.   A development of the 222XX but very long, over 22m, which gave hem a somewhat strange appearance side on.

The 401xx class came before the 222xx, first appearing in 1964.

[Fat Controller]

La Chapelle is an 'interesting' area; there are quite a few 'hotels' that charge an hourly rate..

My wife, and some of the other early intake of ET Controllers, did an SNCF signalling course there. One of her colleagues, a Breton lass, nipped out to buy a packet of cigarettes, returning several hours later; the local police had pulled her in for not carrying her Carte d'Identitié.

[jamie92208]

1 hour ago, BernardTPM said:

The 401xx class came before the 222xx, first appearing in 1964.

Thanks for that. Were they the first nez cassé then.

 

Jamie

[BernardTPM]

Yes, though the lower panels incorporated more crash absorbing material on the later designs. This design was also intended to work through the Channel Tunnel, as depicted on the Playcraft Catalogue cover, the attempt that was abandoned in 1975.