Tramway du Cap-Ferret
The tram Cap- Ferret (French: Tramway du Cap -Ferret ) is a narrow gauge heritage railway on the southern tip of Lege -Cap -Ferret in the Gironde in the south of France. It was originally opened as a horse tram. The only route is single track today, about 2 km long and connects the jetty ( Jetée Bélisaire ) in the east of the peninsula to the beach on the Atlantic coast in the west ( Plage de l'horizon ). The track width is 600 mm, there also known as Système decauville, according to the known in France decauville company, a manufacturer of narrow rail vehicles.
Horse tramway (1879 - 1934)
On the other side of the Bassin d' Arcachon vollspurige a route from Bordeaux to La Teste- de-Buch was opened by a private railway company in 1841, which continued in 1857 to Arcachon. With the increasing excursion traffic, there were more and more tourists, translated by boat to Cap -Ferret. Thus there was a need to transport the incoming boat people to the beach about 2 km away on the Atlantic.
In 1879, therefore, a narrow-gauge railway was opened between the jetty and the southern end of the peninsula. Later, a branch was added to the western end of the peninsula. Furthermore, various forest railways for transportation of wood to the existing system were connected. Today only the distance from the jetty to the east there is the beach in the west of the peninsula. All other routes are mined long. 1925 locomotives replaced with a petrol engine gradually, the horse-power. Around 1936, the company was all set.
Le petit train (1952 - 1989)
In the early 1950s the idea of a rail link between the dock on the Arcachon Bay and the beach on the Atlantic Ocean was revived by Jacques Milet, who stayed in Arcachon for a cure. He was railway enthusiast and knowledgeable with narrow gauge railways. He bought another existing rail facilities and built a narrow gauge railway system decauville that crosses the peninsula in the east-west direction.
The rolling stock consisted of open summer wagons pulled by diesel locomotives, which were disguised as steam engines. Hazards was only in the warm season. The operation was continued without interruption until the death of the founder in 1989.
Rolling stock of the " Petit Train"
- 3 locomotives Schneider, built in 1922, with No. 1, 2 and 3 denotes ( incorporated )
- 1 Locomotive T50D of Billiards, taken from a wood mill ( incorporated )
- Taken over 2 locomotives Diepholzer Maschinenfabrik Germany
- 4 half- open car with two axles
- 1 two-axle wagons with end platform
- 1 two-axle car with mid platform
- 3 open Gelenkwagen
Tram Cap-Ferret since 1989
In 1989, after the death of Jacques Milet, the company was taken over by the municipality to ensure the continued operation. The train was now touristy too important to adjust it again. The rolling stock was renovated.
The distance of 2 km will be completed in about 12 minutes. The maximum speed limit is 18 km / h From April to September, a regular operation is offered, except in case of bad weather. Tickets are available at the counter at the eastern end of the route or the conductor. During the French school holidays in each direction approximately every 30 - 40 minutes and went so exhausted the maximum schedule interval. Outside school, the trips are less numerous.
For use, the diesel engine works and the Diepholzer originating from the 1950s, semi-open summer car, which can neither be illuminated nor heated come. Only a Lausprecheranlage for announcements is available. A continuous compressed air line ensures that in the case of Zugtrennungen stops the whole train at once.
The depot is located at the end of the Rue des Lauries. The scheduled route turns into a slight curve to the left; the depot is located straight ahead. Some to crossing, more traveled roads are backed up by traffic lights that the train automatically switches on and off with sheets on the locomotive which actuate the corresponding contacts on the track.
At the end stations a passing siding is always available, so that the locomotive can implement. Right next to the terminus at Plage de l'horizon are seen painted with graffiti remains of the Atlantic Wall.
There are intermediate stops are provided which are marked with a schedule stop, so do not over bus shelters, benches or similar feature. Zusteigende people have to make the engineer in time noticeable withdrawal requests shall be communicated to the guard at the beginning of the ride. From fare forth the intermediate stations are calculated so that one section to the next intermediate stop 1 EUR costs of a. In everyday life, is almost never kept at the intermediate stations because there are no interesting tourist attractions and the web is almost exclusively used by tourists.
The number of passengers is on average about 30,000 per year.
Nameplate on the loco
Western terminus
Passing siding and remains of the Atlantic Wall