La VIE du RAIL

As mentioned in my CFHC thread, I was lucky enough to buy a box of old "La Vie du Rail" magazines at our local "vide-grenier" (car boot sale) the other week dating from the late 50's / early 60's



I will try and post a few bits here from time to time and respond to any specific requests for articles. The publication is rather more in the format of a weekly newspaper a bit over A4 size 31 x 24cms and printed on newspaper stock which means it doesn't quite fit in my scanner and some of the pages are getting a bit faded, however not bad for 50 year old newspapers.

The target audience seems to be professional "Cheminots" and not train enthusiasts, apart from the stuff I guess we're most interested in, are pics of functions and SNCF dignatories; apprentice summer camps and articles for the Cheminots wives. The ads are fascinating, offering discount "bons" on food and furniture and full page colour ads for things like OMO !

To give you a taste, I've scanned a few bits from just one issue ( Dimanche 25 Octobre 1959) showing the typical articles covered ....


The Front Cover


Part of the St Etienne Tram Article


A close up for Carl / Mikey


Old 1913 postcards depicting aerofoil testing on front of a train


There's generally a feature on an overseas railway, and this one just happens to be Grande Bretagne and showing the Southend on Sea pier railway in Essex. Something I was taken on many times in my childhood.


And always a page of railway related cartoons - almost worthy of a thread in themselves.

There you go - a quick sample. Let me know what you think and what you'd like to see more of?

Cheers

Keep 'em coming Brian (I was 12 on the day this one was issued!). Very interesting

mikey

Interesting about the line to Pont l'Evêque, not far from here.

You're going to be busy Brian!

Don't forget my metre gauge railcars please....

A few storms today, so a chance to scan a few bits and pieces for your delectation...

Including something for us local lads and our friends "down under".

And a couple more ....

Excellent viewing. Interesting stuff about Luxembourg. Didn't know they had metre gauge!

I don't understand some of the gags though especially no.5 in the first set

Did you mean to post that last pic twice?

Carl Hibbs wrote:

Did you mean to post that last pic twice?

No ! Another vin rouge moment

Carl Hibbs wrote:

I don't understand some of the gags though especially no.5 in the first set

That was lost on me too! I thought he might be an undertaker, but it still doesn't make sense! Can any of our French friends help

The cartoon pages often relate to a specific event like a Cheminot's Conference and make no sense out of context.

I've therefore stuck to scanning those where I can understand most of the gags.

There are some particularly good ones for Xmas and Easter, but I thought I'd await the appropriate season!

More please! they are all very interesting and helpful. you did well buying them, I have been looking at the prices much later copies have been fetching on french fleabay!

mikey

GWhizz wrote:

Carl Hibbs wrote:

I don't understand some of the gags though especially no.5 in the first set

That was lost on me too! I thought he might be an undertaker, but it still doesn't make sense! Can any of our French friends help

The cartoon pages often relate to a specific event like a Cheminot's Conference and make no sense out of context.

I've therefore stuck to scanning those where I can understand most of the gags.

There are some particularly good ones for Xmas and Easter, but I thought I'd await the appropriate season!

Did SNCF run a Sunday cheap travel scheme called "bon dimanche"?

If anyones interested in Luxembourg metre gauge, there is an excellent section under Narrow gauge in this site http://www.rail.lu/indexuk.html including a few autorails.

Oh, and, any more trams please ? or even tr lleybusses

Will this keep you tram enthusiasts happy for the timebeing?

And because it's a wet evening and I'm not outside running trains, here's a few more ....

GWhizz wrote:

Will this keep you tram enthusiasts happy for the timebeing?

Certainly will....

Here we go again...



I was particularly minded of the floods in Pakistan when I saw this...

And testing the scanner on my new multi-function printer...

Well the New multifunction scanner printer works well, hasn’t it got a universal translator built into it????

A damp day here in the Charente so spent some time scanning a few more morsels for your delectation...

First off some pre 1910's for Mikey...





Even some 1907 electrics

And for you Autorail buffs some overseas gems ....






Sacrilege conversion of Autorails to passenger coaches...

And tramways ...

And of general interest ...





Sorry no auto translations available Peter, you'll just have to plod through like me with a dictionary in hand

Thank you very much for posting that article about the Reunion railcars.
These are essentially a Billard 150D specially constructed.

That article is a gem.
I have some odd pictures but that's the first proper info I have ever seen.

Could you do me a big favour if and when you have time and that is send me a high resolution copy by e mail. I would like to use the drawings and dimensions as I feel an overdue winter railcar project coming on.

No problem Carl.

I'll try some scans at different resolutions, the higher resolutions can't support de-screening so I'll see what can render the scale drawings the best.

If all else fails I can post you the original article!

Thats a nice quirky railcar.
Found this piccy.....
http://www.mi-aime-a-ou.com/photo_chemin_de_fer.php?id_img=1762

Thanks Brian,
Plans recieved....Now will it be brass or plasticard...I'm off into the workshop!

Apparently these railcars were recently refurbished. We have friends who come from the island and who have travelled on them.

There is some info and pictures here to:

Reunion railcar