Old French Railway Postcards

Manoeuvring gently back towards the thread topic, here is possibly a useful link if you wanted to know a bit more about the Corpet-Louvet story:

http://www.irsociety.co.uk/Archives/27/CL_1.htm

Usual disclaimers apply as to accuracy etc

Yes I've seen that article. Good link Clive

mikey

Maybe this one could inspire somebody to do some modelling! From 1914, a load of Fosses septiques (Septic tanks) Wonder what they were made of then?



mikey

Maybe concrete but not 100% sure

Hi Mike

I've recently been finding out more about our local metre gauge line which ran from Montbron to Roumazieres from 1912 to 1946

The whole line was Angouleme - L'isle d'Espagnac -Magnac - Mornac - Le Queroy - Saint Paul - Saint Sornin - Vouthon - Montbron - Rouzede - Mazerolles - Montembouef - Cherves Chatelars - Mazieres - Suris/La Peruse - Roumazieres Loubert

I just wondered if amongst that horde of cards you have, whether there might be any of the above line????

Here's a google earth link to the line Montbron Line

Hi Brian.No dont have any images of this line BUT only because, as part of the Chemins de fer economiques de charentes i also have an interest in the history of this line. Have you visited the little museum in the old station at gourville?
See this link; http://passion.model49.free.fr/Album2trains/Photo16musee/oct07/page_01.htm

Mikey

That's a brilliant link Mike

Haven't been to Gourville!

Is it near Rouillac? Which I have no probs persuading Caro to visit as they have the excellent monthly market that has great Equine supplies stalls

Yes its just north of Rouillac. We havent been ourselves yet but we were told about it by a friend of our son-in- law, who lives opposite the place. They dont advertise themselves much. i am phoning the Mairie this morning to find out opening times.

mike

Unfortunately we can't make the Rouillac monthly market which is tomorrow the 27th ( in fact every 27th regardless of which day of the week it falls). So if you are planning a visit some other time, perhaps I could hook up with you and tag along? Caro has new work commitments back in the UK starting September, so I would probably be on my own!

One way or another must get there - looks like a great little museum!

I've been in touch with the Mairie Brian and they have given me the number of the guy who runs it. Tried about 11 times so far to contact him!! We will fix something up if you like. Although the museum is closed beginning of september he will open up specially for us.

Mikey

That's brilliant Mike I'll PM you with dates I'm available. Caro starts working 3 days a week back at University of Kent, not absolutely sure of days yet as I'll be ferrying her to the TGV at Angouleme. The good news is she'll be back weekends, thankgoodness for Eurostar!

these all come from the Ain;





more images to come

Mikey

Lovely pics again Mikey - like the pics of the clothing the people wore back then.

Mike

I'm now definately free Wednesdays through Fridays if we can take in the museum at Gourville?

Great pics, keep the cards coming!

The following may not be too good quality - scanned from reprints, not originals, but I think they're interesting!

First, the only one with an identifiable loco: EC 23, Corpet Louvet 1894 at St Martin on the Ile de Re - there is still a short bit of track in the quay just to the left of where the loco is, but I think it's been moved from its original position.



Ars en Re - the station is still there - an art gallery last time I visited:



More EC, in Saintes:





and Jarnac - probably another Corpet (it's all the EC had)



Tramways de L'Iindre: Issoudun - this convinced me that the "baggage/guards" van on a passenger train should run with the balcony towards the front - logical really so the guard could access the rest of the train...



And Argenton:



And some trams

Angouleme:



and three from Bordeaux:








I am still wrestling with my video and promise to post ASAP!

Phil

Excellent Phil! It always amazes me how people in these old pics are so taken up with the photographer and his camera that they completely ignore the train bearing down on them!!

mikey

Excellent Phil.

There is a whole lot written about the beautiful railway on Ile de Ré.

An amusing website,

Pichtou

The Corpets first delivered had just a primitive rolled roof and spectacle plate with no back
rather like a pram.

Something I would like to try and create.

I am supposed to be exhibiting there next summer as part of some 150 year celebration.

I notice in the tram postcards there is both overhead and conduit currect collection in Bordeaux.
Intriguing.

And the great thing that is evident in all these postcard images is that the streets were for trains and people....not cars!

Great pics again - back in the 70s I did a schools exchange visit to Bordeaux for a month (Bristol is or was twinned with Bordeaux for some reason that even now I am not aware of) - I remember being taken into town, and seeing that rather imposing building in the last photo... I think I have a pic of it myself upstairs in the attic somewhere...

The idea with going on the exchange visit was to encourage me to be more comfortable with conversational French... would have worked but for the fact that the boy's father was somewhat of a perfectionist, and was constantly mocking me for getting it wrong. But at least I learned to ski with them, as they took me on holiday with them to the Pyrannees! I also eperienced the utter joy of dipping slices of baguette smothered with butter and apricot jam into a bowl of coffee for breakfast....

clive_t wrote:

I also eperienced the utter joy of dipping slices of baguette smothered with butter and apricot jam into a bowl of coffee for breakfast....

Thats the sort of grosse Gallic behaviour that I have to tolerate in this house.

When the MIL comes she has a bowl that takes 1 litre of coffee and she 'trempes' a whole soggy baguette and/or several croissants

The pavement tables in the cafe in Argenton must have been fun: Don't raise your elbow too high, mon ami: "Zut alors, ze train 'as spilled my drink"

I have a couple of booklets on the railway on Re - if only it could have manged to survive into the 50s, it might have been a fantastic tourist attraction and public service - everyone cycles but there are still far too many cars despite a very good inter-town bus service.

I've got a pic of the "swallow tail" Corpet in a book - Domenguie Les Petits Trains de Jadis - Actually, I could scan every pic in the books (I have three volumes out of 9) and people would be enchanted, but it's not v. fair... for you Carl I will make an exception!

Now you have revealed that you are visiting Poitou-Charentes next year, we absolutely must all meet again - you would be welcome to stay with us (we are about 70 mins drive from the Isle de Re) and I imagine we could meet at my place or one of the others..What are the Retais celebrating next year? Do you have dates yet?

The Bordelais, of course, are still so opposed to wires in their historic streets that they forced Alstom 100 years later to re-invent conduit as APS - so their new system has a mix of ground level and overhead power!

Phil, I think I can see where the confusion is. With regard to No 23 i was quoting Domengie's 'Tramways de L'Ain' and not Petit Trains de Jadis!

Mikey

You can do that yourselves....
You don't need admin.

Split this one, create a new topic.

Okay...I've done it!
See separate thread Corpet Louvet 030T

Thanks Carl - bring allowed to do it is great - knowing how too (and move existing posts) is quite another!

Phil

Notice how I kept quiet? Wouldn't have a clue!! Thanks.

Mikey