Fête de Vapeur CFBS

I already had you two included Phil.

Do you mind (if necessary) not actually eating in Saint Valery. If the weather is fine as Brian said it may be pretty busy and the service consequently poor.

This may unfortunately involve some driving but I think the caravan park is a fair way from the town anyway.

I am sure it will be the company and not the venue which will make the evening! Anywhere in Somme would be fine!

The snow didn't prevent me from visiting today. Most of it had cleared anyway.
Thoroughly pleasant and welcoming people. All very professional and splendid facilities for hardworking volunteers.

A few pics to get you in the mood for 3 weeks time......Those who are not playing golf that is....









The Camemberts must be painted red!













This is what we were working on most of the day to get ready for the fête vapeur.
An ex Swiss BOB Fourgon, now a bicycle and pushchair wagon!


We will be located somewhere around here in the forecourt of the station at St Valery.
We will be in quite a small exclusive tent (6m x 5m) loaned by the mairie but as close as possible to one of the buildings. We may well be on the grass next to the barbecue.
We will be able to open up the sides of the tent if it's nice.
The line in the foreground goes to the port.

I haven't booked a restaurant yet as I am still not sure of what time we will finish.
We certainly will be running at 20:00 until the last train.
From talking to people today we could just all be eating al fresco on the grass!
We'll see more clearly when Brian and I arrive on Friday.

Looking forward to it. BBQ or restaurant, I'm sure both will be nice (I had to Google on the definition 'all fresco').
Actually, my daughter and her friend (SWMBO stays home...) would find that safer than the French cuisine in a restaurant. But I told the ladies I'm sure French restaurants do not only serve snails!
Its nice she takes a friend with her, so I have more time playing trains while they explore the railway and villages ;-)

Paulus wrote:

Looking forward to it. BBQ or restaurant, I'm sure both will be nice (I had to Google on the definition 'all fresco').
Actually, my daughter and her friend (SWMBO stays home...) would find that safer than the French cuisine in a restaurant. But I told the ladies I'm sure French restaurants do not only serve snails!

Good job you didn't tell them about songbird paté and 'live' cheese.....

I used to think Al Fresco was a Spanish singer.

If all else fails there is a decent pizza take away the other side of the railway.

A couple of things I forgot from yesterday.

1. The Sprague-Thompson metro unit is going to be powered by an on board 650v generator set.

2. A long while back someone on here asked me about (modelling) an autorail in storage at the CFBS, a 2 axle locally built (VFIL) machine that looks a little like a squashed Billard 150 Porcinet.

CFBS autorail M31

There is a plan to bring this back into service if there are enough volunteers willing to restore it.

Could be good to make a model at the same time.

Carl Hibbs wrote:

Paulus wrote:

Looking forward to it. BBQ or restaurant, I'm sure both will be nice (I had to Google on the definition 'all fresco').
Actually, my daughter and her friend (SWMBO stays home...) would find that safer than the French cuisine in a restaurant. But I told the ladies I'm sure French restaurants do not only serve snails!

Good job you didn't tell them about songbird paté and 'live' cheese.....

I used to think Al Fresco was a Spanish singer.

If all else fails there is a decent pizza take away the other side of the railway.

And don't forget other delicacies like cervelle d'agneau . There's not likely to be any raw herrings to gulp down, though .

Bought tickets online. Just a few more weeks and than due south! Still, I must not forget to buy me some earplugs for during the travel to France...

Paulus wrote:

... Just a few more weeks and than due south!....

Just a few more days Paul. It's next weekend!

Carl Hibbs wrote:

Paulus wrote:

... Just a few more weeks and than due south!....

Just a few more days Paul. It's next weekend!

What!?

Yes off course! That was what I ment indeed...

Just a few questions:
- is it true that navigation systems in France are forbidden to have speed camera warnings? Even if this option is switched off?
- are those alcohol test thingies required to have on board of the car now? Were can you buy these? Gas station?

Paulus wrote:

Just a few questions:
- is it true that navigation systems in France are forbidden to have speed camera warnings? Even if this option is switched off?
- are those alcohol test thingies required to have on board of the car now? Were can you buy these? Gas station?

Glad you got the date right!

For the speed cameras (radar in French) be careful. If you have a legal and approved sat nav system you should be okay as long as any facility to show speed cameras is switched off.
You can have a facility like apps on a smart phone which tells of an 'incident' on the road ahead but it must not warn of a radar.

The alcohol testers ('ethylotest') are now obligatory from March 1st this year but unlike the original 2012 law you won't be sanctioned if you don't have one...!!!

See:
Ethylotest
Most supermarkets and service stations sell them and you will need at least two, cost about 2-3 euros each.

Also are you bringing some trains with you? How about your steam engine project even if it is not fully functioning?

Here is their latest and last newletter before the big event: CFBS News

Whether you are coming or not it is well worth getting a copy of the 'Guide du Spotter' which as you might guess is a transpotter's guide to the events including timetables, stock etc..
This is available for sale at 3 euros from the website or at the event and is an excellent souvenir. I have one as I am a member...

One disappointing news is the weather, a sad forecast of rain showers and temperatures barely reaching 10°C. And of course we are located outside in a tent so I would bring some warm clothing and an umbrella!

Have fun anyone who is going. Unfortunately, the date clashes with the 16mm AGM and I´ve "got to pick up some stuff ....". I´ll post the videos that usually emerge from the event as soon as I see them.

Thanks for the heads up on the weatherforecast Carl! I'm packing some warm clothes. And some trains also!

More (almost real-time) news of the CFBS and fête de la vapeur can be found here:

Passion Métrique

Good photos of visiting stock arriving and latest amazing progress with the Pinguely restoration. This locomotive will be baptised during the weekend.

See attachment for CGT souvenir.

Well, I can't join you but I shall be clutching my copy of the 'Guide du Spotter....' which will be prominently displayed on the railway notice board. Good luck Carl & the guys - I hope everything goes well and you have a great weekend.

Looks like it will be a fabulous event and not to be missed. Aaagh.
Good luck and I hope you all have a great weekend.

A lot of materiel has starting arriving including a 150P (yes... a 2-10-0) standard gauge.

and a Surprise Loco.

The excitement is building....

Looks good!

Wish I could be there....

KleineDicke wrote:

Wish I could be there....

You will be!! In spirit!

Nearly ready to go.....

Some creative packing but still a whole car load yet to fit in the car.

It's worth looking at these excellent pictures from Yves:

Passion Métrique CFBS

The Sprague Thompson metro has arrived and already running. Accordingly to the notes this was converted a long while ago by the RATP with a large generator in one of the motor cars, part of the seating compartment area being used. You can see one set of doors one side is blanked off.
In effect this really is an electro-diesel multiple unit and usually runs with 2 full second class cars with a red first composite in between.

Plus lots of other material has now arrived including the DeDion JM from the MTVS and a Renault bus from AMTUIR.......

The weather (forecast) can't make up its mind....now certain (?) rain for tomorrow but maybe lucky for the weekend.

We left Eindhoven at 14:30 hr this afternoon. Spend more than 4 hours in the todays extra severe traffic jams in and arround Antwerp (only 80 km from our house). I tried to go through the centre what turned out to be a failure, there was a bomb alert in Antwerp Central and all traffic got stuck in the rushhour...
Actually, we could not even get pass Antwerp so we returned and we give it a next try in the early morning (04:00) More than 6 hours in the car, just to eat french frys at the MacDonald. E34 highway is closed untill monday due to a accindent with a chemicals truck so we have to take a different route.

Why is traffic in Belgium always that hard?

Oscar and I are on the 06.20 train out in the morning.Hope to see you there.