Chemin de fer du Vivarais
Encyclopedia
The Chemin de fer du Vivarais (CFV) - also called The Mastrou - is a tourist railway in the Ardèche
region of the South of France
. The metre-gauge line is 33 kilometres (20.5 mi) long. The journey takes two hours by steam-hauled train utilising a fleet including several Mallet
articulated locomotive
s, other steam traction, and a number of railcar
s.
Originally opened on 12 July 1891, the line closed on 31 October 1968, and reopened as a heritage line the following year, but is currently (2009) closed. The line runs between Tournon
, in the Rhône
Valley, and Lamastre
in the Doux
valley. From Lamastre, the original line ran a further 19 kilometres (11.8 mi) to Le Cheylard
.
between 1898 and 1903. The network comprised:
When the Vivarais network closed in 1968, a group of enthusiasts decided to save part of the network and rolling stock. On June 14, 1969 a tourist operation started between Saint-Jean-de-Muzols and Lamastre. The Meyzieu Tourist Railway Company was created to operate the line, supported by the Association de soutien au Cheman de fer du Vivarais (SGVA), a group of volunteers who restore and maintain the rolling stock. It was not until February 1970 that access was restored to the railway station at Tournon, and the new Tournon - Lamastre line, 33 kilometres (20.5 mi) long, was officially opened on 18 April 1970.
In 1973 the CFV was forced to buy the rolling stock, track and stations, which made the company CFTM one of the only operators of tourist railways to own the infrastructure and rolling stock.
After operating without assistance for 35 years, the CFV searched for a partner. The department of Ardèche became majority shareholder of the CFV in 2004, when the realisation of the Joint Economic Society (SEM) to be substitutes resulted CFTM with the department's commitment to make a contribution of funds corresponding to the proportion of assets of CFTM. These flows of funds would be materialised in the form of investments on track and rolling stock.
However, these investments remained largely made on the equity of the company, thus creating an operating deficit. Thus, 7 km of track have been rebuilt, but the steam locomotives, very expensive to maintain, found themselves unable to move at the beginning of the 2008 season, leading to discontinuation of service.
On 18 February 2011 the Conseil Général de l'Ardèche and the new operator SNCFV (Société Nouvelle du Chemin de Fer du Vivarais) have signed an agreement to continue the service. The SNCFV was founded by 'Kléber Roussillon' (travel agency) et 'Les Courriers Rhodaniens' (road coach operator) . The current stop Saint-Jean-de-Muzols should become the new terminus. From summer 2011 on a velo-rail service is planned between Boucieu le Roi and Douce Plage while steam service should return in 2013 on the lower section St Jean de Muzol - Boucieu-le-Roi .
railway station at Tournon. Access from Saint-Jean-de-Muzols is via the SNCF Givors
- Voulte-sur-Rhône section, a length of 2.2 kilometres (1.4 mi). The track here is three-rail dual gauge
, the only example remaining in France (in a similar arrangement, the Chemin de Fer de la Baie de Somme utilises four-rail dual gauge track). This section includes two tunnels and a viaduct. This line was opened by the PLM in the summer of 1879.
... and one tunnel:
In addition, the dual-gauge SNCF section, has:
Ardèche
Ardèche is a department in south-central France named after the Ardèche River.- History :The area has been inhabited by humans at least since the Upper Paleolithic, as attested by the famous cave paintings at Chauvet Pont d'Arc. The plateau of the Ardeche River has extensive standing stones ,...
region of the South of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. The metre-gauge line is 33 kilometres (20.5 mi) long. The journey takes two hours by steam-hauled train utilising a fleet including several Mallet
Mallet locomotive
The Mallet Locomotive is a type of articulated locomotive, invented by a Swiss engineer named Anatole Mallet ....
articulated locomotive
Articulated locomotive
Articulated locomotive usually means a steam locomotive with one or more engine units which can move independent of the main frame. This is done to allow a longer locomotive to negotiate tighter curves...
s, other steam traction, and a number of railcar
Railcar
A railcar, in British English and Australian English, is a self-propelled railway vehicle designed to transport passengers. The term "railcar" is usually used in reference to a train consisting of a single coach , with a driver's cab at one or both ends. Some railways, e.g., the Great Western...
s.
Originally opened on 12 July 1891, the line closed on 31 October 1968, and reopened as a heritage line the following year, but is currently (2009) closed. The line runs between Tournon
Tournon
Tournon is the name or part of the name of several communes in France:* Tournon, in the Savoie département* Tournon-d'Agenais, in the Lot-et-Garonne département* Tournon-Saint-Martin, in the Indre département...
, in the Rhône
Rhône
Rhone can refer to:* Rhone, one of the major rivers of Europe, running through Switzerland and France* Rhône Glacier, the source of the Rhone River and one of the primary contributors to Lake Geneva in the far eastern end of the canton of Valais in Switzerland...
Valley, and Lamastre
Lamastre
Lamastre is a commune in the Ardèche department in southern France.-Population:...
in the Doux
Doux
Doux may refer to:* Doux, Ardennes, a French commune in the Ardennes department* Doux, Deux-Sèvres, a French commune in the Deux-Sèvres department* Doux River, a river in France* A kind of sparkling wine, for which the °Bx is greater than 5....
valley. From Lamastre, the original line ran a further 19 kilometres (11.8 mi) to Le Cheylard
Le Cheylard
Le Cheylard is a commune in the Ardèche department in southern France.-Population:-External links:*...
.
History
A network of lines was constructed around VivaraisVivarais
Vivarais is a traditional region in the south-east of France, covering the département of Ardèche, named after its capital Viviers on the river Rhône...
between 1898 and 1903. The network comprised:
- Lavoûte-sur-LoireLavoûte-sur-LoireLavoûte-sur-Loire is a commune in the Haute-Loire department in south-central France.-External links:*...
- YssingeauxYssingeauxYssingeaux is a commune in the Haute-Loire department in south-central France....
- RaucoulesRaucoulesRaucoules is a commune in the Haute-Loire department in south-central France....
-Brossettes (length 39.4 kilometres (24.5 mi)) - La Voulte-sur-Rhône - Le Cheylard (length 47.5 kilometres (29.5 mi))
- TournonTournonTournon is the name or part of the name of several communes in France:* Tournon, in the Savoie département* Tournon-d'Agenais, in the Lot-et-Garonne département* Tournon-Saint-Martin, in the Indre département...
- Lamastre - Le Cheylard (length 52.2 kilometres (32.4 mi)) - DunièresDunièresDunières is a commune in the Haute-Loire department in south-central France.-See also:*Communes of the Haute-Loire department...
- Saint-AgrèveSaint-AgrèveSaint-Agrève is a commune in the Ardèche department in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
- Le Cheylard (length 61 kilometres (37.9 mi))
When the Vivarais network closed in 1968, a group of enthusiasts decided to save part of the network and rolling stock. On June 14, 1969 a tourist operation started between Saint-Jean-de-Muzols and Lamastre. The Meyzieu Tourist Railway Company was created to operate the line, supported by the Association de soutien au Cheman de fer du Vivarais (SGVA), a group of volunteers who restore and maintain the rolling stock. It was not until February 1970 that access was restored to the railway station at Tournon, and the new Tournon - Lamastre line, 33 kilometres (20.5 mi) long, was officially opened on 18 April 1970.
In 1973 the CFV was forced to buy the rolling stock, track and stations, which made the company CFTM one of the only operators of tourist railways to own the infrastructure and rolling stock.
After operating without assistance for 35 years, the CFV searched for a partner. The department of Ardèche became majority shareholder of the CFV in 2004, when the realisation of the Joint Economic Society (SEM) to be substitutes resulted CFTM with the department's commitment to make a contribution of funds corresponding to the proportion of assets of CFTM. These flows of funds would be materialised in the form of investments on track and rolling stock.
However, these investments remained largely made on the equity of the company, thus creating an operating deficit. Thus, 7 km of track have been rebuilt, but the steam locomotives, very expensive to maintain, found themselves unable to move at the beginning of the 2008 season, leading to discontinuation of service.
On 18 February 2011 the Conseil Général de l'Ardèche and the new operator SNCFV (Société Nouvelle du Chemin de Fer du Vivarais) have signed an agreement to continue the service. The SNCFV was founded by 'Kléber Roussillon' (travel agency) et 'Les Courriers Rhodaniens' (road coach operator) . The current stop Saint-Jean-de-Muzols should become the new terminus. From summer 2011 on a velo-rail service is planned between Boucieu le Roi and Douce Plage while steam service should return in 2013 on the lower section St Jean de Muzol - Boucieu-le-Roi .
Shared formation with the SNCF
Trains depart from the SNCFSNCF
The SNCF , is France's national state-owned railway company. SNCF operates the country's national rail services, including the TGV, France's high-speed rail network...
railway station at Tournon. Access from Saint-Jean-de-Muzols is via the SNCF Givors
Givors
Givors is a commune in the Rhône department in eastern France.It lies on the Rhône River about south of Lyon and on the main road between that city and Saint-Étienne. The city has long served as a crossroads between the communities of the Rhône River and those of the Loire River...
- Voulte-sur-Rhône section, a length of 2.2 kilometres (1.4 mi). The track here is three-rail dual gauge
Dual gauge
A dual-gauge or mixed-gauge railway has railway track that allows trains of different gauges to use the same track. Generally, a dual-gauge railway consists of three rails, rather than the standard two rails. The two outer rails give the wider gauge, while one of the outer rails and the inner rail...
, the only example remaining in France (in a similar arrangement, the Chemin de Fer de la Baie de Somme utilises four-rail dual gauge track). This section includes two tunnels and a viaduct. This line was opened by the PLM in the summer of 1879.
Stations
- Tournon, altitude: 123 metres (403.5 ft) (all quoted distances are from Tournon)
- Saint-Jean-de-MuzolsSaint-Jean-de-MuzolsSaint-Jean-de-Muzols is a commune in the Ardèche department in southern France.-Population:-See also:* Pont Grand* Communes of the Ardèche department-References:*...
(2.6 kilometres (1.6 mi)) - TroyesTroyesTroyes is a commune and the capital of the Aube department in north-central France. It is located on the Seine river about southeast of Paris. Many half-timbered houses survive in the old town...
(7 kilometres (4.3 mi)) - Mordane (9 kilometres (5.6 mi))
- Clauzel (11 kilometres (6.8 mi))
- Colombier-le-VieuxColombier-le-VieuxColombier-le-Vieux is a commune in the Ardèche department in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
/ Saint-Barthélemy-le-PlainSaint-Barthélemy-le-PlainSaint-Barthélemy-le-Plain is a commune in the Ardèche department in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
(13 kilometres (8.1 mi)) - Boucieu-le-RoiBoucieu-le-RoiBoucieu-le-Roi is a commune in the Ardèche department in southern France.-References:*...
(18.5 kilometres (11.5 mi)), altitude: 276 metres (905.5 ft) - Tincey (19 kilometres (11.8 mi))
- ArleboscArleboscArlebosc is a commune in the Ardèche department in southern France.-Population:...
(22 kilometres (13.7 mi)) - Le Garnier (24 kilometres (14.9 mi))
- Le Plat-Empurany (26.1 kilometres (16.2 mi))
- Lamastre (32.6 kilometres (20.3 mi)), altitude: 373 metres (1,223.8 ft)
Bridges and Tunnels
The CFV has 3 viaducts crossing the River Doux:- de Troyes, (6 kilometres (3.7 mi)) with 4 20 metres (65.6 ft) arches.
- d’Arlebosc, (21 kilometres (13 mi)) with 5 12 metres (39.4 ft) arches.
- du Garnier, (23 kilometres (14.3 mi)) with 6 12 metres (39.4 ft) arches.
... and one tunnel:
- Modane, (9 kilometres (5.6 mi)) 265 metres (869.4 ft) in length.
In addition, the dual-gauge SNCF section, has:
- 2 tunnels under the city of Tournon, of 640 metres (2,099.7 ft) and 40 metres (131.2 ft) length.
- 1 viaduct over the River Doux, 165 metres (541.3 ft) long.