Chemin de Fer du Vivarais

The Chemin de Fer du Vivarais, CFV abbreviated, was a railway museum in France. From Tournon in the Rhone Valley narrow gauge line ran through the impressive gorge of the Doux to Lamastre. Between 1969 /70 and 2008 inverted hauled by steam locomotives trains and DMUs ( Autorails ), the steam trains were usually covered with Mallet steam locomotives. The track length was 33 km, the trip took about two hours for steam traction and about an hour with the railcar. The museum operation was conducted from April to October. Noteworthy was the three-rail track between the train station and the branch Tournon Saint -Jean -de- Muzols, in the two tunnels ( 640 and 40 meters) under crossed the outskirts of the village and led to a 165 -meter-long iron viaduct over the river Doux. It is scheduled for Summer 2013 re- opening of the railway, this part should not be driven by the museum trains. New eastern end of the line would then Saint -Jean -de- Muzols.

History

The railway line from Tournon about Lamastre was opened by the Compagnie de chemins de fer départementaux (CFD ) on July 12, 1891, extended in 1903 to Le Cheylard. In Tournon a community station originated with the Compagnie des chemins de fer de Paris à Lyon et à la Méditerranée (PLM ) and to 2.2 kilometers in length, a communal three-rail track. On October 31, 1968, the total distance was shut down on 14 June 1969 sees the start of the tourist traffic between Lamastre and Saint -Jean -de- Muzols. As of February 1970, moved back to Tournon station.

Officially, the Museum of traffic on the route Tournon- Lamastre was opened on 18 April 1970. 1973 tracks, stations and vehicles were purchased by the CFV. 2004, the operator has been renamed to " Mixed Economic Society " and in CFTM, with the Ardèche, as the majority shareholder.

Route

The starting point was the Tournon station, which was run in conjunction with the PLM and their successors SNCF. Here was the depot. To the north, the train was on a three -rail track, which also represented the northbound track of the main track ( left). After the bridge over the Doux the narrow gauge track branched off to the west and followed later in the valley of the river. The track had several brick bridges, cuts and Mordane a further 265 meters long tunnel. From Tournon (123 m above sea level) to Lamastre ( 373 m above sea level), a height difference of 250 meters was overcome.

Stations

  • Tournon -sur- Rhone (km 0.0, 123 m above sea level)
  • Saint -Jean -de- Muzols ( 2.6 km )
  • Troyes (km 7)
  • Mordane (km 9)
  • Clauzel (km 11)
  • Colombier- le -Vieux -Saint- Barthelemy -le -Plain ( 13 km )
  • Boucieu -le- Roi (km 18.5, 276 m above sea level)
  • Tincey (km 19)
  • Arlebosc (km 22)
  • Le Garnier ( 24 km )
  • Le Plat - Empurany ( 26.1 km )
  • Lamastre (km 32.6, 373 m above sea level)

Crisis of 2008

Forty years after the rescue of the section Tournon - Lamastre before the closure was on the web before another crisis: since 2008, no driving took place, there was no operational steam locomotive available and the route had security deficiencies. The biggest problem here was the shared use of the normal- Rhone- line SNCF using a three- rail track. This route has only transit freight traffic and its operator to use the train paths of the narrow-gauge railway for their trains.

Future

On 18 February 2011, the Ardèche and the new operator, Société Nouvelle du Chemin de Fer du Vivarais, SNCFV abbreviated, signed an agreement to continue operating as a museum railway. The Société Nouvelle du Chemin de Fer du Vivarais was founded by the tour operator Kléber Rossillon and the coach companies Courriers Rhôdaniens. Plans call for a total investment of 13 million euros. The previous breakpoint Saint -Jean -de- Muzols, just before it joins the SNCF mainline at Tournon with the problematic joint three-rail operation would also be extended to the terminus station. In summer 2011, a bicycle Drais Enver downside was set up on a 12 -kilometer section. Here, the Billiards railcar 213 is used. He brings the track cars back to their starting point. As of 2013, there should be re -covered steam locomotive trains, they will operate between Saint -Jean -de- Muzols and Boucieu -le- Roi. The steam operation is to be carried out in 2013 with the Mallet locomotives 403 ( 1903 ) and 414 ( 1932). In July and August 2013 one wants to go every day except Monday, September and October on the weekends. The first public test drive took place on June 19, 2013, the commissioning ceremony is to take place on July 2.

About the future of the existing terminal station of Tournon -sur -Rhône and the there existing vehicle and spare parts collection is not yet known.

Trivia

In November 1942, the territory of the unoccupied zone was occupied by German troops. The occupiers searched the passengers in the terminal station of Tournon, why disembarked passengers with goods for black market before. This brought high numbers of single and disembarking persons the small station of Saint -Jean -de- Muzols to 1944.

Gallery

Standard gauge and narrow gauge railway station of Tournon

Three rail track with branch of narrow gauge track at Tournon Station

Branch at Tournon station with Entgleisvorrichtung, looking towards the north

Station Lamastre with a new car room and billiards engines and sidecar

Lamastre station with engine shed, water tower and former route to Le Cheylard

Metre gauge Diesel multiple unit
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