Compagnie du Chemin de Fer de Caen à la Mer
Encyclopedia
The Compagnie du Chemin de Fer de Caen à la Mer, was an early French
railway company.
on 18 November 1855, this was the line from Paris
to Cherbourg
. Main cities and town only were privileged during the early XIXth century, but by the 1850s, local authorities demanded that the territory of the Calvados
département be served by the railway for use by industry.
. It was inaugurated on 30 June 1875 and originally operated 16 km (10 mi) between Caen Saint-Martin Station
and Luc-sur-Mer Station
. The company's tracks were standard gauge
except for the branch to Ouistreham
which was 0.60m.
In July 1876, the line was extended by 8 km (5 mi) from Luc-sur-Mer
to Courseulles
. A 4 km (2 mi) spur, linking the Caen à la mer to the CF de l'Ouest
was opened on 12 September 1877 and several intermediate stations, La Folie, Malon, Le Cizey and Epron are opened to passengers.
Caen à la mer Société Anonyme
is officially created on 30 September 1886, and is not merged with the local major railway operator CF de l'Ouest
due to its unthreatening nature to the big company.
A third rail is laid between Luc-sur-Mer and Courseulles in 1900 to permit the Calvados' 0.60m gauge trains to operated up to Luc, from Caen, via Ouistreham
.
The company makes a profit during the summer season, but most services stop during World War I
, with only 3 return trips operating. After the Armistice, normal operation resumed and the company diversified its operations with a bus
service to provide a corresponding bus to its trains.
The economic difficulties of the 1920s brought the first deficit in 1930, then 1931. The State took over operations on 23 March 1933. The line was modernised between 1937 and 1938. On 9 August 1937, the concession was ended and powers transferred to the Courriers Normands, who signed a contract with the newly created SNCF
to have its track maintained by the nationalised railways. Omnibus services were then transferred to buses and trains mainly circulating during the Summer season.
The line was little touched by World War II
and although a few tank movements deteriorated the tracks, the military did replace the damaged sections for use by military trains. Civilians are once again accepted on the one daily passenger train in 1944 and the company finally took back their network on 21 December 1944.
In 1945, traffic was six times what it was in 1938, and twice what it was in 1943, unfortunately, most passengers of the day were war veterans who benefited from free public transport.
By 1950, rail service only ran during the summer and the decision to close the 28 km (17 mi) long branch line took into effect in 1952.
s; it was composed of four 0-6-0
engines built in 1875 by Fives-Lille specially for the line. A 0-6-0
Corpet-Louvet
was received in 1883 to complete the fleet as well as 030-1392 of the Chemin de Fer de l'Ouest. Finally, a 0-6-0 St Léonard and a 0-6-0 Corpet Louvet built engines were received in 1927.
Passenger cars were Bidel wooden carriages of which twenty were double decker coaches, identical to those used on Réseau Saint-Lazare
.
A few bogie carriages manufactured for the Chemin de Fer de l'État
for Paris
-Courseulles
direct services.
From 1924 the Chemin de Fer de Caen à la Mer equipped itself of DMUs. Their fleet of DMUs was composed of one Renault
RS4 and four tyre Michelines. These were withdrawn in 1939.
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...
railway company.
History
The railway first arrived to CaenCaen
Caen is a commune in northwestern France. It is the prefecture of the Calvados department and the capital of the Basse-Normandie region. It is located inland from the English Channel....
on 18 November 1855, this was the line from Paris
Gare Saint-Lazare
Paris Saint-Lazare is one of the six large terminus train stations of Paris. It is the second busiest in Paris, behind the Gare du Nord, handling 274,000 passengers each day.-History:...
to Cherbourg
Gare de Cherbourg
Gare de Cherbourg is the railway station of the city of Cherbourg, France. It is the western terminus of the Mantes-la-Jolie–Cherbourg railway....
. Main cities and town only were privileged during the early XIXth century, but by the 1850s, local authorities demanded that the territory of the Calvados
Calvados
The French department of Calvados is part of the region of Basse-Normandie in Normandy. It takes its name from a cluster of rocks off the English Channel coast...
département be served by the railway for use by industry.
La ligne Caen à la mer
The Caen à la mer line was a branch line in CalvadosCalvados
The French department of Calvados is part of the region of Basse-Normandie in Normandy. It takes its name from a cluster of rocks off the English Channel coast...
. It was inaugurated on 30 June 1875 and originally operated 16 km (10 mi) between Caen Saint-Martin Station
Gare de Caen Saint-Martin
Saint Martin, was the main station on the CF Caen-Mer and the terminus of the line for trains from Courseulles and Luc-sur-Mer.The station and line opened on 30 June 1875, with a spur linking it to the CF de l'Ouest opened on 12 September 1877...
and Luc-sur-Mer Station
Gare de Luc-sur-Mer
Luc-sur-Mer, was a railway station at on the Caen à la Mer railway and opened on 30 June 1875. In July 1876, the line was extended from Luc to Courseulles-sur-Mer...
. The company's tracks were standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
except for the branch to Ouistreham
Ouistreham
Ouistreham is a commune in the Calvados department' in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.Ouistreham is a small port with fishing boats, leisure craft and a ferry-harbour. It serves as the port of the city of Caen. The town is about the mouth of the Canal de Caen à la...
which was 0.60m.
In July 1876, the line was extended by 8 km (5 mi) from Luc-sur-Mer
Gare de Luc-sur-Mer
Luc-sur-Mer, was a railway station at on the Caen à la Mer railway and opened on 30 June 1875. In July 1876, the line was extended from Luc to Courseulles-sur-Mer...
to Courseulles
Gare de Courseulles-sur-Mer
Courseulles, was a railway station at the end of the CF Caen-Mer, terminus of trains from Caen and Luc-sur-Mer.The station and extension of the line opened in July 1876 and doubling of the track with the addition of a third rail for 0.60m trains in 1900...
. A 4 km (2 mi) spur, linking the Caen à la mer to the CF de l'Ouest
Chemins de Fer de l'Ouest
The Compagnie des chemins de fer de l'Ouest , often referred to simply as L'Ouest or Ouest, was an early French railway company.- Birth of the company :...
was opened on 12 September 1877 and several intermediate stations, La Folie, Malon, Le Cizey and Epron are opened to passengers.
Caen à la mer Société Anonyme
S.A. (corporation)
S.A. designates a particular type of corporation in various countries, mostly those employing the civil law. It originated in Spain during the 16th century. Depending on language, the abbreviation stands for various phrases meaning anonymous society, anonymous company, anonymous partnership, or...
is officially created on 30 September 1886, and is not merged with the local major railway operator CF de l'Ouest
Chemins de Fer de l'Ouest
The Compagnie des chemins de fer de l'Ouest , often referred to simply as L'Ouest or Ouest, was an early French railway company.- Birth of the company :...
due to its unthreatening nature to the big company.
A third rail is laid between Luc-sur-Mer and Courseulles in 1900 to permit the Calvados' 0.60m gauge trains to operated up to Luc, from Caen, via Ouistreham
Ouistreham
Ouistreham is a commune in the Calvados department' in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.Ouistreham is a small port with fishing boats, leisure craft and a ferry-harbour. It serves as the port of the city of Caen. The town is about the mouth of the Canal de Caen à la...
.
The beginning of difficulties
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, with only 3 return trips operating. After the Armistice, normal operation resumed and the company diversified its operations with a bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
service to provide a corresponding bus to its trains.
The economic difficulties of the 1920s brought the first deficit in 1930, then 1931. The State took over operations on 23 March 1933. The line was modernised between 1937 and 1938. On 9 August 1937, the concession was ended and powers transferred to the Courriers Normands, who signed a contract with the newly created SNCF
SNCF
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...
to have its track maintained by the nationalised railways. Omnibus services were then transferred to buses and trains mainly circulating during the Summer season.
The line was little touched by World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and although a few tank movements deteriorated the tracks, the military did replace the damaged sections for use by military trains. Civilians are once again accepted on the one daily passenger train in 1944 and the company finally took back their network on 21 December 1944.
In 1945, traffic was six times what it was in 1938, and twice what it was in 1943, unfortunately, most passengers of the day were war veterans who benefited from free public transport.
By 1950, rail service only ran during the summer and the decision to close the 28 km (17 mi) long branch line took into effect in 1952.
Line openings
| Date | Section | Length (km) |
| 30 June 1875 | Caen Saint-Martin Gare de Caen Saint-Martin Saint Martin, was the main station on the CF Caen-Mer and the terminus of the line for trains from Courseulles and Luc-sur-Mer.The station and line opened on 30 June 1875, with a spur linking it to the CF de l'Ouest opened on 12 September 1877... - Luc-sur-Mer Gare de Luc-sur-Mer Luc-sur-Mer, was a railway station at on the Caen à la Mer railway and opened on 30 June 1875. In July 1876, the line was extended from Luc to Courseulles-sur-Mer... |
16 |
| July 1876 | Luc-sur-Mer Gare de Luc-sur-Mer Luc-sur-Mer, was a railway station at on the Caen à la Mer railway and opened on 30 June 1875. In July 1876, the line was extended from Luc to Courseulles-sur-Mer... - Courseulles Gare de Courseulles-sur-Mer Courseulles, was a railway station at the end of the CF Caen-Mer, terminus of trains from Caen and Luc-sur-Mer.The station and extension of the line opened in July 1876 and doubling of the track with the addition of a third rail for 0.60m trains in 1900... |
8 |
| 12 September 1877 | Caen Saint-Martin Gare de Caen Saint-Martin Saint Martin, was the main station on the CF Caen-Mer and the terminus of the line for trains from Courseulles and Luc-sur-Mer.The station and line opened on 30 June 1875, with a spur linking it to the CF de l'Ouest opened on 12 September 1877... - CF de l'Ouest Chemins de Fer de l'Ouest The Compagnie des chemins de fer de l'Ouest , often referred to simply as L'Ouest or Ouest, was an early French railway company.- Birth of the company :... |
4 |
| 1900 | Luc-sur-Mer Gare de Luc-sur-Mer Luc-sur-Mer, was a railway station at on the Caen à la Mer railway and opened on 30 June 1875. In July 1876, the line was extended from Luc to Courseulles-sur-Mer... - Courseulles Gare de Courseulles-sur-Mer Courseulles, was a railway station at the end of the CF Caen-Mer, terminus of trains from Caen and Luc-sur-Mer.The station and extension of the line opened in July 1876 and doubling of the track with the addition of a third rail for 0.60m trains in 1900... |
Third rail installed |
Stations
The line ran from Caen to Courseulles and served the following towns and villages:- CaenCaenCaen is a commune in northwestern France. It is the prefecture of the Calvados department and the capital of the Basse-Normandie region. It is located inland from the English Channel....
(stationGare de Caen Saint-MartinSaint Martin, was the main station on the CF Caen-Mer and the terminus of the line for trains from Courseulles and Luc-sur-Mer.The station and line opened on 30 June 1875, with a spur linking it to the CF de l'Ouest opened on 12 September 1877...
) - Couvrechef
- CambesCambes-en-PlaineCambes-en-Plaine is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.-Population:-References:*...
- MathieuMathieuMathieu may refer to:In places:* Mathieu, Calvados, a commune of the Calvados département in FranceIn mathematics:* Claude-Louis Mathieu , French mathematician and astronomer...
(station) - Douvres-la-DélivrandeDouvres-la-Délivrande-External links:**...
(station) - Chapelle-la-Délivrande
- Luc-sur-MerLuc-sur-MerLuc-sur-Mer is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.-Population:-Sights:* The "Maison de la Baleine". On January 15, 1885 a 40 ton and 19 meters long whale beached in Luc sur Mer...
(stationGare de Luc-sur-MerLuc-sur-Mer, was a railway station at on the Caen à la Mer railway and opened on 30 June 1875. In July 1876, the line was extended from Luc to Courseulles-sur-Mer...
) - Langrune-sur-MerLangrune-sur-Mer-References:*...
(station) - Saint Aubin-sur-Mer (station)
- Bernières-sur-MerBernières-sur-MerBernières-sur-Mer is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.In 1944, Le Régiment de la Chaudière, a French Canadian infantry unit, came ashore at Bernières-sur-Mer as a part of Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings which began the liberation of...
(station) - Courseulles-sur-MerCourseulles-sur-MerCourseulles-sur-Mer is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.It is a popular tourist destination not only with locals but also with international visitors who come to tour the Normandy landing beaches...
(stationGare de Courseulles-sur-MerCourseulles, was a railway station at the end of the CF Caen-Mer, terminus of trains from Caen and Luc-sur-Mer.The station and extension of the line opened in July 1876 and doubling of the track with the addition of a third rail for 0.60m trains in 1900...
)
Rolling stock
The company possessed but a small fleet of steam locomotiveSteam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
s; it was composed of four 0-6-0
0-6-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels...
engines built in 1875 by Fives-Lille specially for the line. A 0-6-0
0-6-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels...
Corpet-Louvet
Corpet-Louvet
Corpet-Louvet was a steam locomotive manufacturer based in Paris, France.-History:Founded in 1855 as Anjubault, based in the Avenue Phillippe-Auguste in Paris, the firm was taken over by Lucien Corpet in 1868. Corpet's daughter Marguerite married Lucien Louvet, the engineer of the Compagnie...
was received in 1883 to complete the fleet as well as 030-1392 of the Chemin de Fer de l'Ouest. Finally, a 0-6-0 St Léonard and a 0-6-0 Corpet Louvet built engines were received in 1927.
Passenger cars were Bidel wooden carriages of which twenty were double decker coaches, identical to those used on Réseau Saint-Lazare
Réseau Saint-Lazare
Réseau Saint-Lazare is the network of railway lines originating from Saint Lazare Station in Paris. The network stretches from Paris to Normandy and encompasses suburban services...
.
A few bogie carriages manufactured for the Chemin de Fer de l'État
Chemin de Fer de l'État
The Chemins de fer de l'État , often referred to in France as the réseau de l'État , was an early French railway company.-History:...
for Paris
Gare Saint-Lazare
Paris Saint-Lazare is one of the six large terminus train stations of Paris. It is the second busiest in Paris, behind the Gare du Nord, handling 274,000 passengers each day.-History:...
-Courseulles
Gare de Courseulles-sur-Mer
Courseulles, was a railway station at the end of the CF Caen-Mer, terminus of trains from Caen and Luc-sur-Mer.The station and extension of the line opened in July 1876 and doubling of the track with the addition of a third rail for 0.60m trains in 1900...
direct services.
From 1924 the Chemin de Fer de Caen à la Mer equipped itself of DMUs. Their fleet of DMUs was composed of one Renault
Renault
Renault S.A. is a French automaker producing cars, vans, and in the past, autorail vehicles, trucks, tractors, vans and also buses/coaches. Its alliance with Nissan makes it the world's third largest automaker...
RS4 and four tyre Michelines. These were withdrawn in 1939.