French 4-wheel coaches

Here's another De Dietrich variant.

That first picture of yours, Carl, has many similarities with English and Welsh NG practice. And British standard gauge coachbuilding practice from the 1880s as well, come to that. I would imagine that engineers and surveyors and carriage builders from different railway companies travelled around and saw what others were doing and thus many coaches, with detail differences in different countries stemmed from similar origins.

Some more very 'LGBish' looking coaches:

http://www.altek.nl/MTVS/2001/MTVS200105-02.jpg

Saddletank wrote:

Hmm... so strange. No, Clive, it wasn't Railfaneurope that's for sure but the page I recall did have categories on a blue background in boxes...

Could it be this....?

http://www.lafrancevuedurail.fr/cftliste.htm

At the end of the day nobody would know if you converted LGB or any other manufacturers coaches. There's a prototype for everything.

There were and continue to this day many local fabrications and modifications.

As one line closed the stock appeared elswhere in the country and sometimes back again when some lines reopened as in Provence for example.

And also the CFBS and CFV have converted ex Swiss MOB coaches.

Found this onDelcampe, looking for 'cages a poules':

Actually, on closer examination this looks like some sort of push-pull multiple unit! The centre 'coach' looks like it has valve-gear...

So it does, well spoted Clive.

Sorry Carl, no, that is not the site. If I come across it again I will definitely link to it here. It was more a personal site of a man, or family who travelled around visiting derelict French lines, mostly narrow gauge that I could see. There were a few preserved lines in there too but what I liked most about it was the architectural pictures - the site owner had photographed lots of old stations and such. I'll keep looking.

I take your point about rolling stock. We will be doing a fictional line anyway 'based on...' or 'inspired by...' rather than modelling a specific prototype - neither our modelling skills nor interests extend to representing an actual place or company's operations in miniature. Besides, one's detractors and critics become legion when you do that and don't do it perfectly.

Clive. Wow, interesting vehicle. It does look like an SMU (Steam Multiple Unit!) with the covered connections between vehicles and that centre vehicle is definitely a steam railmotor or tram engine of some kind. Its a very weird creature and would make a fantastic model.

Nice found clive about those cage à poule, here a bit more :

http://bbretelle.free.fr/Trains/html/Nord_voyageurs.htm

It's strange to see the shape of a modern locotracteur in the front of that locomotive

.

For those who have HO train a kit of the train clive found exist here :

http://www.locoset.com/pagesite/ptarif/tvapeur2r.htm

.

Martin, have you tried doing a Google Images search?

http://images.google.com

Possibly if you can remember any of the key words that were on the site, it might return some pictures that you recognise?

Frustratingly, I think I know the site you're referring to, was it a Dutch fella writing in English?

Yes, I believe it was a Dutchman, not 100% certain but I think it was. I was sure it was Maarten Meeuwes for a time but I find his site very hard to navigate so cannot confirm this. I have been in google images for two days now... ! But searches such as 'derelict railway', 'abandoned railway', 'French narrow gauge' are not bringing up results. If only I could remember one of the station names he visited... so frustrating!

The other annoying thing is I'm also sure I found the site following a link from a thread on here, and I can't recall that thread either.

Looking on the bright side, I know I'll find it eventually and I'll be really happy when I do!

On the way I found this place. I expect you gents all know it but in case you don't...

http://www.narrow-gauge.co.uk/gallery/12

Also some very inspirational images of Gordon and Maggie Gravett's Pempoul. The track layout is reminiscent of Le Crotoy with the back freight road.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fairlightworks/2974263624/

EDIT: I think one of the stations that is now a private house was called MERVEL or something very close to that. Google still isn't helping though.

Quote :

Besides, one's detractors and critics become legion when you do that and don't do it perfectly.

Not so much in this scale and certainly less so with French secondary railways.

There are so many variations, modifications and there is so much diversity that nobody could ever criticise because they would never have enough knowledge or memory.

And even if they did remember one day - like my Corsican train-driver friend Nuncio Grisoni (real name) they would have changed the story the next day......

Plus too the geographical separation and isolation of many networks, even Monsieur Laborie didn't know what was going on his own railway in Doubs.

Think of the the ugliest or most unusual locomotive you can imagine and it would have been built for sure somewhere in some beetroot field workshop.

That's what is great about French metre gauge...anything goes.

You occassionally get a swat who will tell you studiously about the different variants of a Renault ABH8 railcar are but they are thankfully rare........

I wonder if this is it:

http://www.trainingdutchman.nl/

On the menu on the left hand side, hit the UK/US flag, then look for 'French Narrow Gauge' in the menu options.

Alternatively, if you select 'site overview' it gives you each page as a separate link...

So was it one of these:

http://www.altek.nl/vapeur2009.html

http://www.altek.nl/CP.html

http://www.altek.nl/CdN.html

http://www.altek.nl/SE.html

http://www.altek.nl/CFV.html

http://www.altek.nl/VFV.html

http://www.altek.nl/CFLaMure.html

http://www.altek.nl/CFC.html

http://www.altek.nl/CFBS.html

http://www.altek.nl/LaRhune.html

http://www.altek.nl/MTVS.html

Yes! Thank you!

http://www.altek.nl/SE.html

This is the set of images that so inspired me, his photos of the station buildings and the landscape makes me just want to get modelling right away. Brilliant. Now I'm happy.

For someone living in the UK, endless close up shots of locos are not that helpful which is what 95% of most railway photos seem to comprise, but Maarten's photos of dead lines and the landscapes they went through are invaluable.

Looking again at this coach, I reckon the Accucraft Isle of Man 4-wheeler could easily be a basis for that. http://www.altek.nl/CdN/2005/Mei/CdN/Wagons/P5270898-500.JPG
Or as Carl suggested, the LGB Prussian 4-compartment coach as well, minus it's clerestory roof.

It's weird, I looked twice at Maarten's site while trying to find the pics I remembered but just didn't see these.

Phew, we got there!

I knew there was a thread about this somewhere - Bill (KleineDicke) posted it:

https://continental-garden-t.forumotion.com/real-trains-f4/chemin-de-fer-de-la-baie-de-somme-t577.htm

Not the same Dutch guy though. Still, some more interesting coach pics and some video too!

Here's another couple of interesting pages from the guy's site:

http://www.narrowgauge.nl/site/english/tta.htm

http://www.narrowgauge.nl/site/english/tta2.htm

Thanks, Clive. You're being way too helpful here. Nice links.

I love photos like this:

http://www.narrowgauge.nl/site/cfbs/img/051%20cfbs.jpg

The wagons are fascinating, no two alike but what's especially useful to me as a modeller is that little slice of background that shows what the countryside surrounding the line is like. Invaluable to those who can't get in a car and drive there in an hour or so.

I love this image as well:

http://www.narrowgauge.nl/site/tta/tta12.jpg

Not sure what your plans are for backscenes, but if you were looking for something suitable, you might try looking here - a good mix of town and countryside backscenes in both 9 and 15 inch heights:

http://www.art-printers.com/backscenes.htm

Having seen how well the 'Shades of the Harz' layout works without a backscene we will probably not have one. Two reasons mainly - high backscenes make it hard to reach the model for all manner or necessary purposes and without a backscene the model will be dual sided - in our clubroom it will probably live along one or two walls and be viewed/operated from one side but in public the plan is to add in extra modules for exhibitions such as corners and thus we want to retain the flexibility of it being viewable and operat-able from either side.