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Tramway - Steamers - Vedettes - Lighthouse
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The Tramway du Cap-Ferret, also known as the Petit
train du Cap-Ferret, is a 600mm narrow gauge railway on the Atlantic coast
of France in the department of Gironde. The tramway is situated on the Cap
Ferret, a peninsular that which divides the Atlantic Ocean from Arcachon
Bay, and links the shores of the bay with the beaches on the Atlantic coast.
The line began as three 800mm gauge horse-drawn tramway lines with open 4-wheel coaches.
The horses were later replaced by locotracteurs which were farm tractors
fitted with flanged steel wheels. These lines closed in the 1930s. The line
was revived in the 1950s as a 600mm gauge line with
diesel locotracteurs hauling trains of open 4-wheel coaches and
Decauville-style bogie toastracks. The line is largely situated along the
road side.
The line is some 2 kilometres (1.2 miles) long and connects the Bélisaire
jetty on Arcachon Bay with Horizon beach on the Atlantic coast. It operates
every afternoon from April to September, with services running every 30
minutes or less, and with some morning services in the peak summer season.
Ferries have always connected the Bélisaire jetty with the resort town of Arcachon on the
other side of Arcachon Bay. Initially these ferries were substantial
steamers which also ran sea trips. In post war years the steamers were
replaced by attractive and distinctive vedettes based on the design of the
local fishing vessels.
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Les petits trains du Cap Ferret by Luc Dupuyoo
- Editions Confluences (2007)
Le Cap Ferret - Memoire en Images by Luc Dupuyoo
- Editions Alan Sutton (2009)
The Tourist railways of France by Richard Haworth -
Rapid Transport Publications (2nd Ed 1996)
to be added
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Tramway - Steamers - Vedettes - Lighthouse
Each image links to a larger copy which opens in a
new window/tab
Tramways du Cap Ferret
Petit train du Cap-Ferret
The Tramway du Cap-Ferret, also known as the Petit
train du Cap-Ferret, is a 600mm narrow gauge railway on the Atlantic coast
of France in the department of Gironde. The tramway is situated on the Cap
Ferret, a peninsular that which divides the Atlantic Ocean from Arcachon
Bay, and links the shores of the bay with the beaches on the Atlantic coast.
The line began as a horse-drawn tramway with open 4-wheel coaches. Later
diesel-hauled trains hauled trains of open 4-wheel coaches and
Decauville-style bogie toastracks. The line is largely situated along the
road side.
The line is some 2 kilometres (1.2 miles) long and connects the Bélisaire
jetty on Arcachon Bay with Horizon beach on the Atlantic coast. It operates
every afternoon from April to September, with services running every 30
minutes or less, and with some morning services in the peak summer season.
Ferries connect the Belisarius jetty with the resort town of Arcachon on the
other side of Arcachon Bay.
An 800mm gauge horse tramway used to exist on Cap Ferret, built before the
roads in the area were fully developed. Three lines from the ferry pier were
built, one heading south to the Pointe, one north towards the lighthouse and one to the west to the Atlantic
beaches. Petrol tractors were used later, but the lines closed in the 1930s.
Whilst Cap ferret at this time was an exposed and fairly desolate place,
many restaurants were built close to the tramways - this was France after
all and food always takes precedence.
The present 600mm gauge line was opened in 1952 and marked the start of the
post war revival of narrow gauge tourist railways in France. The
re-established line followed the horse tramway to the Atlantic Coast,
although it deviated from the original to avoid new chalets which had been
built. Further new buildings have since been built along the road the train
uses for part of the route. The line starts near the ferry pier at Bélisaire
where the connecting vedettes arrive from Arcachon. The railway then passes
through the chalets as a roadside tramway to a halt at Mimosas, from where a
short branch leads to the shed. The main part of the route follows the road
through the woods until it reaches the sand dunes where there is another
halt called Europa. Finally, the railway runs through the dunes to the
Atlantic beach at Océan Plage.
The railway had four 0-4-0 diesel locos in 1996, three of which were
Schneider ex-industrials from a salt works which all have steam outline
chimneys and cabs. The fourth diesel was Billard acquired from a forest
tramway.
Horse tramway on Cap-Ferret
Horse tramway on Cap-Ferret
Horse tramway on Cap-Ferret
Horse tramway on Cap-Ferret
Horse tramway on Cap-Ferret
Horse tramway on Cap-Ferret
Tramway on Cap-Ferret - horses replaced by primitive
locotracteur
Tramway on Cap-Ferret - horses replaced by primitive
locotracteur
Tramway on Cap-Ferret - horses replaced by primitive
locotracteur
Petit train du Cap-Ferret - colourised photo showing
early horse-drawn trams (top)
Petit train du Cap-Ferret
Petit train du Cap-Ferret in the woods
The first locotracteur on the revived railway was a
small two axle petrol machine from Etablissements Boilot in Puteaux,
Paris which was acquired in July 1952. Weighing 3.5 tonnes, it had an 18hp
engine with chain drive which proved to be inadequate.
Petit train du Cap-Ferret in the woods with the
original locotracteur
Petit train du Cap-Ferret at the Grand Hotel de la Mer
with the original locotracteur
Petit train du Cap-Ferret in the woods with the
original locotracteur
Petit train du Cap-Ferret at the Grand Hotel de la Mer
with the original locotracteur
Petit train du Cap-Ferret in the woods with the
original locotracteur
Petit train du Cap-Ferret in the woods with the
original locotracteur
Schneider Locotracteurs Nos.T1-T3
Since the original locotracteur was underpowered, two Schneider industrials from a salt works
were acquired. They were numbered T1 and T2. They arrived in 1953 from
Cie.Salines du Midi in Salin-de-Giraud in the Camargue. They had been built
in 1923 and were fitted with 36hp Ballot petrol engines. The ballot engines
were replaced by a General Motors 135hp diesel and an 80hp Renault
respectively. A third similar loco T3 was acquired in 1958 from a local
forestry railway. This was fitted with a 93hp Perkins diesel which was
sufficiently successful that T1 and T2 were re-engined again with identical
units.
The images below are shown in
rough chronological order, starting as very basic locos with simple cabs
which were later given steam-outline embellishments and more substantial
cabs.
Petit train du Cap-Ferret in the woods
Petit train du Cap-Ferret leaving Belisaire
Petit train du Cap-Ferret at the beach
Petit train du Cap-Ferret at the beach
Petit train du Cap-Ferret at the beach
Petit train du Cap-Ferret at the beach - Schneider Loco No.2
Petit train du Cap-Ferret in the woods - Schneider loco No.2
with 'Océan' headboard - Schneider Loco No.2
Petit train du Cap-Ferret in the woods - two
variations of the same card - note the man on the left on the second card
only
The Schneider diesel has a steam outline chimney but still just a
rudimentary cab
Petit train du Cap-Ferret in the woods - two
variations
The Schneider diesel has a steam outline chimney but still just a
rudimentary cab - Schneider Loco No.2
Petit train du Cap-Ferret in the woods - two
variations
Petit train du Cap-Ferret in the woods
The Schneider diesel has a steam outline chimney but still just a
rudimentary cab - Schneider Loco No.2
Petit train du Cap-Ferret in the woods. The locos
carried a simple headboard with the word 'Océan' at this time (later
abandoned)
The Schneider diesel has a steam outline chimney but still just a
rudimentary cab - Schneider Loco No.2
Petit train du Cap-Ferret in the woods - coloured
variation of card above - Schneider Loco No.2
Petit train du Cap-Ferret in the woods - Schneider Loco No.2
Petit train du Cap-Ferret in the woods
Petit train du Cap-Ferret at the beach - Schneider
loco No.1
Petit train du Cap-Ferret at the beach - Schneider Loco
No.1
Petit train du Cap-Ferret in the woods - Schneider Loco
No.1
Petit train du Cap-Ferret in the woods - Schneider loco No.1
Petit train du Cap-Ferret - Schneider loco No.1
Petit train du Cap-Ferret - Schneider Loco No.1
Petit train du Cap-Ferret at Horizon beach - Schneider loco No.1
Petit train du Cap-Ferret at the beach - Schneider loco No.1
Petit train du Cap-Ferret - Schneider Loco No.2
Petit train du Cap-Ferret - Schneider Loco No.2
Petit train du Cap-Ferret in the woods - Schneider loco No.1
with steam outline embellishments
Petit train du Cap-Ferret at the beach - Schneider loco No.1
with steam outline embellishments
Petit train du Cap-Ferret - Schneider Loco No.2
Petit train du Cap-Ferret - Schneider Loco No.2
Petit train du Cap-Ferret - Schneider Loco No.2
Petit train du Cap-Ferret in the woods - Schneider loco No.3
with steam outline embellishments
Petit train du Cap-Ferret in the woods - Schneider loco No.3
with steam outline embellishments
Petit train du Cap-Ferret at the beach
Petit train du Cap-Ferret at Horizon beach
Petit train du Cap-Ferret at Horizon beach
Petit train du Cap-Ferret at Horizon beach
Petit train du Cap-Ferret at Horizon beach
In 1965 it was decided that a fourth loco was
necessary since all three existing locos were used in service at busy
periods, so any failures were a problem. The loco acquired was a Billard
T50D, previously used at a sugar plant in Sermaize near Pithiviers, which
was powered by a 40hp CLM engine. This was replaced in 1968 with a Perkins
diesel by its builders Billard in Tours, similar to T1-T3 but with 113hp.
The Billard does not seem to have received a number.
Petit train du Cap-Ferret with the Billard diesel No.4
Billard diesel No.4
Petit train du Cap-Ferret at the beach - Billard loco
No.4
Petit train du Cap-Ferret at Horizon beach, plus the
lighthouse - Billard loco No.4
Petit train du Cap-Ferret at Horizon beach
Prior to the building of roads, the only easy way to
access Cap Ferret was by steamer from Arcachon. After WW2, these steamers
were replaced by much smaller as shown
below.
Bay of Arcachon steamer Courrier du Cap
Courrier du Cap
(Société du Cap-Ferret: 1902)
The Société du Cap-Ferret the Courrier du Cap,
built 1902. She ran from Arcachon to Bélisaire all year round until 1943,
linking with the horse tramways.
Bay of Arcachon steamer Courrier du Cap
Courrier du Cap II
(Société du Cap-Ferret: acquired 1931)
Due to the success of Courrier du Cap,
the Société du Cap-Ferret acquired the Courrier du Cap II in 1931.
She ran from Arcachon to Bélisaire until requisitioned in 1939. She was
previously the Ville de Painboeuf at Nantes and could carry more passengers
than
Courrier du Cap
(350) and had a small upper deck.
Bay of Arcachon steamer Courrier du Cap II
Ville de Rochefort
(Société Rochefortaise: 1895 & 1902)
The Société Rochefortaise owned two similar steamers
named Ville de Rochefort. The first was built in 1895 which was
sold. The second was built in Scotland in 1902 and was 36m long and 353hp.
She ran to Le Pointe (du Cap Ferret) and connected with the south running
horse tramway from the other pier at Bélisaire. I do not know how long she
survived on the route. All cards below show the second vessel.
Bay of Arcachon steamer Ville de Rochefort
A fleet of attractive and distinctive vedettes used
to run services around the Bay of Arcachon, linking with the Petit train du
Cap Ferret. These have since been replaced by more functional vessels, but
some of the elegant originals remain in private ownership.
Bay of Arcachon vedette Astrée
Bay of Arcachon vedette Astrée
Bay of Arcachon vedettes
Bay of Arcachon vedettes
Bay of Arcachon vedette Cathma in later
private ownership
Bay of Arcachon vedette in later private ownership
Cap Ferret is a headland, situated at the south end
of the commune of Lège-Cap-Ferret in the French department of Gironde. The
headland takes the form of a spit, which separates the Atlantic Ocean from
Arcachon Bay. At the same time, the entrance to Arcachon Bay separates Cap
Ferret from the resort town of Arcachon. Cap Ferret is famous for its
lighthouse and as an up-market resort that has retained its natural feel at
the heart of the Landes of Gascony and the Pays de Buch. Cap Ferret is
accessible by road from the north, and by passenger ferry from Arcachon. The
Tramway du Cap-Ferret, a diesel operated narrow-gauge railway, links the
ferry landing on the shores of Arcachon Bay with the beaches on the Atlantic
coast.
Cap Ferret lighthouse
Cap Ferret lighthouse
Cap Ferret lighthouse, plus an Arcachon vedette
- Simplon Postcards facebook page
