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Minimum Gauge Tourist Trains in France
This page is under construction
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In France, the term 'Petit Train' is used for both
narrow gauge railways and trackless tourist trains. This page shows a
selection of genuine railway Petits Trains built as tourist trains.
Trackless land trains are covered on:-
Petits Trains 2. It does not
cover more substantial narrow gauge French railways.
Miniature tourist railways in the UK generally used small scale steam locos
built to model engineering standards. The French equivalent park and seaside
railways tended to be minimum gauge railways using small narrow gauge steam
or diesel locos, some of the latter being rather bizarre steam-outline
designs. With the recent revival of miniature railways in the UK, minimum
gauge designs have become more popular, although still built to model
engineering standards. I am not aware of a similar revival in France.
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Minimum Gauge Tourist Trains in France
Each image links to a larger copy which opens in a
new window/tab
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 Belisarius
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.
Additional details of the line's history will be added soon
Petit train du Cap-Ferret - colourised photo showing
early horse-drawn days (top)
Petit train du Cap-Ferret
Petit train du Cap-Ferret
Petit train du Cap-Ferret - Loco No.2
Petit train du Cap-Ferret - Loco No.2
Petit train du Cap-Ferret at the Grand Hotel de la Mer
Petit train du Cap-Ferret in the woods
Petit train du Cap-Ferret in the woods - two
variations
Petit train du Cap-Ferret in the woods
Petit train du Cap-Ferret in the woods
Petit train du Cap-Ferret in the woods
Petit train du Cap-Ferret in the woods - loco No.1
Petit train du Cap-Ferret in the woods - loco No.3
Petit train du Cap-Ferret in the woods - loco No.3
Petit train du Cap-Ferret in the woods - loco No.1
Petit train du Cap-Ferret in the woods
Petit train du Cap-Ferret in the woods
Petit train du Cap-Ferret in the woods
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
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
Petit train du Cap-Ferret at the beach
Petit train du Cap-Ferret at Horizon beach, plus the
lighthouse
More railways will be added soon
- Simplon Postcards facebook page
