Train du Bas-Berry
| Train du Bas-Berry | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Train with locomotive 11 in Heugnes
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gauge : | 1000 mm ( meter gauge ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Train du Bas-Berry is a museum railway in France . It travels a listed section of the former railway line from Le Blanc to Argent-sur-Sauldre , the Chemin de fer du Blanc-Argent (BA). The track width is 1000 mm ( meter gauge ).
history
The narrow-gauge line from Le Blanc to Argent was opened in 1901/1902 in four stages. Currently only the middle section from Valençay via Romorantin to Salbris is operated. The section from Argy to Luçay-le-Mâle , which was closed in 1988 , was saved from demolition and listed as a historical monument.
In 1989, the Société d'Animation du Blanc Argent (SABA) was founded for the preservation of this section as a museum and for the tourist use . The first aim was to free the line from wild growth and prevent the tracks from being dismantled. The neighboring communities acquired the railway site. In eight years of work, 12,000 sleepers were replaced on a 27 km route . In 2003 a tourist train service was possible for the first time.
route
The museum train is located in the central French countryside of Berry , in the Indre department of the Center-Val de Loire region . Without overcoming any significant differences in altitude, it runs from Argy in a north-westerly direction to its center of operation, Écueillé . There it turns to the northeast and after a total of approx. 32 km reaches the end point Luçay-le-Mâle. The continuing line to Valençay serves as an operating track with no regular traffic.
Vehicle fleet
Of the three existing steam locomotives , No. 11, a B-coupled two-axle tank locomotive from 1921, is used. Alternatively, diesel railcars operate , of which the SNCF X 224 was delivered directly to the BA in 1951. SNCF X 205 (built in 1947) and SNCF X 211 (built in 1951) came to the BA in 1967. Two of the three operational diesel locomotives come from the Euskirchener Kreisbahnen . They were built at Deutz in 1955 . A trolley , a sidecar (for railcars), five passenger cars and two freight cars are also drivable .
Steam locomotives
- B-coupled tank locomotive 020T No. 11, built in 1921 as No. 1589 by Corpet Louvet , formerly Chemin de Fer de la Baie de Somme
- D-coupled tank locomotive 040T No. 24, built in 1923 as No. 1616 by Corpet Louvet, formerly Chemin de Fer du Vivarais , in refurbishment
- C-coupled tank locomotive 030T No. 103, built in 1905 as No. 167 by Pinguely , (167/1905), formerly Chemins de fer du Morbihan , being refurbished .
Diesel locomotives and draisines
- Small diesel locomotive 56115 , built by Deutz in 1955 , formerly Euskirchener Kreisbahnen, for double traction with 56116
- Small diesel locomotive 56116, built by Deutz in 1955, formerly Euskirchener Kreisbahnen, for double traction with 56115
- Small diesel locomotive 3162, built near Brookville in 1945 , formerly US government , engine: Deutz
- Draisine 713, built by Renault in 1930 , formerly SNCF , re-gauged
Combustion railcar and sidecar
- Railcar 193 (SNCF X 205), built at De Dion-Bouton in 1947 , formerly SNCF, BA since 1967
- Railcar SNCF X 224, built in 1951 by SCF Verney , delivered directly to the BA, engine: MAN
- Railcar SNCF X 211, built in 1951 at SCF Verney, formerly PO and SNCF, in 1967 at BA
- Railcar SNCF XR 701, built in 1951 by SCF Verney, delivered directly to the BA
Locomotive 11 (on the Voies Ferrées du Velay museum railway in Tence )
Locomotive 103 as a memorial in Tournon-sur-Rhône
Railcar X 205 in Romorantin , 1976
business
The museum railway operates from May to September. The trips start in Écueillé and lead to Argy or Luçay-le-Mâle and back. Either a steam train or a diesel train is used at a time. Driving days are mainly Sundays, in the main season there is also driving on Wednesdays. The fares (for people over 12 years of age) range from 6 euros for the Écueillé – La Foulquetière route to 15 euros for Écueillé – Argy, children pay 33 to 50% less.
literature
- Vincent Lepais, Michel Jacobs, Jean-Louis Audigué: Le chemin de fer du Blanc à Argent . Éditions LR Presse, Auray 2011, ISBN 978-2-903651-71-8 .
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Vincent Lepais, Michel Jacobs, Jean-Louis Audigué: Le chemin de fer du Blanc à Argent , p. 31 ff.