Chemin de Fer de La Mure

The Chemin de Fer de La Mure is an electrically operated, executed in meter gauge railway line south of Grenoble. It was opened after six years of construction in 1888 and served the transportation of anthracite coal from the mine of La Mure to Saint -Georges -de- Commiers. Today the line is operated as a museum railway.

On 26 October 2010 the line was buried by a rock fall at kilometer 13,460 on a short section between the two tunnels, and has since been decommissioned. The persistence and in particular the financing of repairs is unclear.

The route overcomes to 30 kilometers an altitude difference of 550 meters. It was electrified in 1903. Originally developed by Swiss engineer René Thury Three -wire DC system with a positive 1200 volt phase, a negative 1200 volts phase and a " neutral " between the two voltages was used. The supply was provided by a two-pole overhead line with two pairs of pantographs and the rails as " neutral ". The voltage of the traction motors in portable high performance limits were transmitted at the same time, however, be kept. The first electric locomotive ( E1 " Le Drac ", after lying beside the track flow ) was 50 tons, had four axes with Einzelachsantrieb whose four engines were in combination 500 hp (about 367 kW). She was on the ascent 20 empty wagons ( ie 100 tons ) and pull 300 tons at a speed of 22.5 km / h when going downhill. Four similar machines were delivered between 1905 and 1909 and knew it to 1933 its service.

In 1950 the railway was converted to monopolar power at 2400 volts.