kintbury jon Posted September 1, 2014 Share Posted September 1, 2014 Hello. Have just got back from an enjoyable week in the Loire Valley. Thought i'd share the railway related photos. A visit to the Train Touristique de la Vallee du Loir http://www.ttvl.fr/ saw us travel on a nicely restored X2400 railcar (X2419). The journey lasts 2hr45 in total. It starts in Thore la Rochette and heads east to a bridge over the TGV line where it sits and awaits a TGV to zoom past underneath. It then returns west passing a freight depot and into the village of Troo. Of interest is that the majority of the line is owned by the SNCF for access to the freight depot (I think for Transcereales) with only the last section being owned by the TTVL. The speed of the service is limited to 20km/h which is painfully slow at times but is down to the fact that the track is in really poor condition. We sped up when on the much smoother TTVL tracks to Troo! Here is a shot of the unit at Thore. A couple of visits were made to Tours and in particular St Pierre des Corps, a large depot that I had visited a few times successfully in the 90's. I have a number of plates that I obtained from there so it was a place I was keen to return to. Unfortunately, times have changed and I was politely told that I was not allowed to go round the depot. Not a problem though as there are a number of vantage points where you can observe the depot and yard. Two long bridges over the area being very useful! I was keen to see the withdrawn BB9200 electrics that I was sure were still present. Indeed there were a few there in a variety of liveries. Below shows the line of remaining BB9200 there. From front to back on the left are BB9265 in en Voyage Livery, Y8478 and Y8488 shunters, BB9214, BB9222 and BB9240 in Beton livery with Fret liveried BB9220 at the back. I will mention what's behind it in the next post! On the right is BB9247 in Corail+ livery, BB69274, a couple of shunters and BB22304, also in Corail+ livery. Under the bridge in front of BB9265 stood BB9257 in Beton livery, next to a load of very new looking shunters. More to come! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kintbury jon Posted September 1, 2014 Author Share Posted September 1, 2014 A few shots to show the depot viewed from various areas. From the south looking towards the new DMU depot (well new to me since the 90's!) A bit further along to the west where the entrance to the depot is. Diesel 60107 is nearest. And standing on the bridge to the west of the depot showing what was present on a Sunday evening. Note the withdrawn blue/white X4300 DMUs, push pull coach set and Z5300 EMUs. Shunter Y8421 in orange is in front of yellow bogie diesel 664639. BB(6)22300 is the yellow electric a little further behind. Didn't know the numbers until I zoomed in after taking the photos! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Focalplane Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Good to see new Infra shunters, evidence that France is looking after its infrastructure? Old shunters in a line at Béziers have been sitting there for several years - one even has the graffiti name "Sarko"! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Controller Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Good to see new Infra shunters, evidence that France is looking after its infrastructure? Old shunters in a line at Béziers have been sitting there for several years - one even has the graffiti name "Sarko"! I'd say it was more a case of keeping the staff at Quatre-Mares (Rouen) works occupied; there were some ex-works ones in the lines of stored locos at the adjacent Sotteville yard. The infrastructure on most lines away from the LGVs and trunk routes has been slammed by a French government committee, but rather than do anything to rectify the maintenance deficit, RFF/SNCF seem inclined to close lines. Many of the lines in the Massif Centrale, for example, have been 'bustituted' for a while, and more are planned. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Focalplane Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 I'd say it was more a case of keeping the staff at Quatre-Mares (Rouen) works occupied; there were some ex-works ones in the lines of stored locos at the adjacent Sotteville yard. The infrastructure on most lines away from the LGVs and trunk routes has been slammed by a French government committee, but rather than do anything to rectify the maintenance deficit, RFF/SNCF seem inclined to close lines. Many of the lines in the Massif Centrale, for example, have been 'bustituted' for a while, and more are planned. Unfortunately, you may be right, but I am forever an optimist! My car is being repaired in Millau and have to go there to pick it up tomorrow. I will pop down to the station if I have time and see what is or isn't going on. As a steam era British trainspotter I am simply amazed by the number of French locos that are not being used and not being scrapped either. BR couldn't wait to destroy everything, even buildings on lines set for preservation. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kintbury jon Posted September 3, 2014 Author Share Posted September 3, 2014 There certainly wasn't a huge amount going on in Tours. It was very evident in the yards, nothing like how I remember. Agreed regarding the amount of stored locos Focalplane. On the way back we passed through Rouen and the lines of engines are all still there, looking worse for wear. Of interest I noticed a couple of CC72000 were missing their noses. Perhaps someone has one in their living room?! Anyway, a few more photos. I mentioned in the first post there was something behind the Fret liveried 9200. I identified it as a driving carriage from a Z5100 (ex Paris) EMU. Keen to know it's number I started using the zoom to see if I could get the unit number written on the end. After a number of unsuccessful attempts (catenary and shunters getting in the way!), this shot did the trick: Closer view... Closer again! To see the numbers 122 indicating it was ZR15122, the driving trailer from Z5100. Having felt pleased with my identification, I was slightly crestfallen to see that I could have known this had I looked carefully at this page! http://trainsso.pagesperso-orange.fr/Z5100.pdf Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Focalplane Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Well done, Sherlock! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Andy Hayter Posted September 4, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 4, 2014 As a steam era British trainspotter I am simply amazed by the number of French locos that are not being used and not being scrapped either. BR couldn't wait to destroy everything, even buildings on lines set for preservation. I think there may be a whole number of reasons for this from: To scrap these locos would have an unacceptable impact on the profit loss accounts of SNCF (Yes I know they don't look good anyway) because of the right-off of capital stock. Through to: SNCF has quite a good track record in selling redundant stock abroad - principally to Maghreb. They may also be considering a "sale" to Akiem who would then lease them to other rail operators. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kintbury jon Posted September 4, 2014 Author Share Posted September 4, 2014 Continuing with that day, we had gone on Monday morning to see some trains running. After waiting 40 minutes with nothing coming through, we opted to move to the bridge next to the station. On the way we spotted Sybic 26002 heading Eastbound probably towards Vierzon (though could be Paris). Not a great shot but having got home to England and dusted my 1991 SNCF book, see that of the first 15 Sybics, it was the only one I hadn't seen. Think i'll resist underlining it though! Once on the bridge, these views show the depot viewed from the west side. A variety of things to see including what looks like a training centre for PW staff. Further along there were a number of private diesels: ex DB class 211 what looks like another ex DB class 211 with a (Meccoli?) BB66600 Another industrial BB66600 After a short time, we headed off to Carrefour and Flunch to meet the rest of the family! A disappointing visit in terms of moving trains but we went back on Friday afternoon and did a lot better. Photos to follow! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kintbury jon Posted September 4, 2014 Author Share Posted September 4, 2014 In contrast, here are 4 photos that I took in Tours around about 1990. The withdrawn Z5100 units are probably in the large grassy area in the third photo of the previous post. Z5142 nearest (and most beaten up!) Depot view from the west BB25541 nearest along with a CC1100 and BB4200/4730 BB4752 (centre) and BB4753 (right) TGV connects with BB9642 on the 'Navette' (St Pierre des Corps to Tours shuttle service) How times have changed...and how I wished i'd taken more photos! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kintbury jon Posted September 6, 2014 Author Share Posted September 6, 2014 On the Wednesday, we went to the Musee du Maurice Dufresnes. A fascinating museum containing a large amount of reclaimed tractors, cars and anything that moves! I would highly recommend a visit if one is in the area. The 10 Euros entry is very modest. Of interest to me included a number of SNCF plates that were housed on the wall. I have the front plate of BB25632, hence my interest. When I got home I looked up the engines in my 1991 book... to find that the above plate BB16027 was the only BB16000 of over 60 that I hadn't seen. Can I underline it now? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kintbury jon Posted September 6, 2014 Author Share Posted September 6, 2014 Then on the Friday, me and Robert nipped off to Tours for around 45 minutes. We saw 15 trains in the time which was better than the none we saw in 40 minutes stood on the same bridge on Monday! The siding containing the one withdrawn BB9200 had been tinkered with. BB7273 was the first to show its face with a Paris bound service Then almost straight away, a double deck TGV came in from Paris Slowly heading eastbound shows BB22288 in a very clean Infra livery headed through with some almost empty ballast wagons. Z7505 headed east with a stopper (not required for haulage!) Then a modern unit Two Atlantique TGVs passing each other Then 26069 arrived in the yard with a set of TGV coaches. Pantograph went down and the driver headed into the depot. Some more modern units And finally 60107 propelled some wagons into the east yard. This loco is photographed in the second post at the depot. Whilst it was a shame we couldn't go around the depot, it was nice to be able to go back to a place that I have fond memories of as a teenager. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Focalplane Posted September 8, 2014 Share Posted September 8, 2014 45 minutes! A good number of "catches". Interesting to see a rake of duplex coaches being towed by a 26xxx. The Infra 22xxx with ballast cars may have been on night duty on the LGV? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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