Chaumont

[kirtleypete]

We visited Chaumont in order to see the spectaular viaduct. 

 

 

 

 

While we were there, of course, it made sense to have a look at the station as well. 

 

Chaumont was opened by the Est Railway in 1857 on the line from Troyes; in 1866 a line was opened to Chatillon from a junction west of the viaduct. This line is now only used for grain traffic from the numerous silos in the area. 

 

These postcards show what a fascinating place Chaumont used to be:

 

 

On the left is an engine shed, in the centre is the station and on the right is a wagon repair shop. 

 

 

 

 

 

All this appears to have been swept away in the 1950's when the present station was built. 

 

When we visited it was being refurbished with new doors and windows...the road approach side was almost done but the platform side was still looking very shabby. 

 

 

The Relay was housed in the shed while the interior was remodelled. The station looked superb from this side, with the forecourt and car parks also newly done.

 

 

Inside, though, things looked very much as they must have done since the 1950's with concrete canopies.

 

 

 

The biggest surprise, though, was the total lack of traffic. There was a train of hopper wagons in the siding, without a loco, and that was it...we never saw a passenger train in the time we were there. The line really seems to be a poor relation now that the LGV line has taken all the long distance traffic away. The station is far too big for the numbers of people using it; we found it quite depressing.

 

 

Peter