Train Touristique du Cotentin
Encyclopedia
The Train Touristique du Cotentin is a heritage railway
and voluntary association
in Basse-Normandie
, France
. The railway runs between Barneville-Carteret
and Portbail
on part of the former railway line linking Carentan
to Barneville-Carteret
in Cotentin.
The railway began as the Association Tourisme et Chemins de fer de la Manche in 1982. The association has a set itself the task of preserving railway heritage in the Cotentin.
The association was founded in 1982 as the Association pour la Sauvegarde du Chemin de fer Carentan-Carteret, (ASCCC), which became in 1983, the Association pour la Sauvegarde du Chemin de fer Carentan-Carteret et Coutances - Cherbourg under pressure of the Cherbourg
and Coutances
councils.
On 14 July 1984, after pressure from several municipalities and inhabitants of the Manche
département, the association increased its interest to the preservation of all local railways in the Manche
and became Association pour les Transports en Commun de la Manche (ATCM). In July, as a promoter of tourism in the region, it changed once more its name to Association Tourisme et Chemins de fer de la Manche.
From 21 December 1988 to 30 June 1994, the Train Touristique du Cotentin ran trains on a 10 km section of track from Carentan
to Baupte
with a 1950s railcar, then the X3825, the X2426
.
From 23 June 1990, the TTC also runs trains between Barneville-Carteret
and Portbail
on a 9 km long section of track. Its main haulling power being a set of three 1930S passenger coaches and the BB63069. The X2426
sold to PontAuRail
in 1995 and the X3825 to Quercyrail in 1998.
Heritage railway
thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
and voluntary association
Voluntary association
A voluntary association or union is a group of individuals who enter into an agreement as volunteers to form a body to accomplish a purpose.Strictly speaking, in many jurisdictions no formalities are necessary to start an association...
in Basse-Normandie
Basse-Normandie
Lower Normandy is an administrative region of France. It was created in 1956, when the Normandy region was divided into Lower Normandy and Upper Normandy...
, 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 railway runs between Barneville-Carteret
Barneville-Carteret
Barneville-Carteret is a commune in the Manche department in the Basse-Normandie region in north-western France. It is situated on the western coast of the Cotentin peninsula some 30 km south of Cherbourg. It consists of three small urban areas, Barneville Bourg, Barneville Plage and Carteret...
and Portbail
Portbail
Portbail is a commune in the Manche department in north-western France.-Heraldry:The arms of Portbail are blazoned :Azure, a chevron abased, between in fess 3 mullets Or and a lancehead argent.-Demography:...
on part of the former railway line linking Carentan
Carentan
Carentan is a small rural town near the north-eastern base of the French Cotentin Peninsula in Normandy in north-western France near the port city of Cherbourg-Octeville. Carentan has a population somewhat over 6,000 and is now administratively organized as a commune in the Manche department...
to Barneville-Carteret
Barneville-Carteret
Barneville-Carteret is a commune in the Manche department in the Basse-Normandie region in north-western France. It is situated on the western coast of the Cotentin peninsula some 30 km south of Cherbourg. It consists of three small urban areas, Barneville Bourg, Barneville Plage and Carteret...
in Cotentin.
The railway began as the Association Tourisme et Chemins de fer de la Manche in 1982. The association has a set itself the task of preserving railway heritage in the Cotentin.
The association was founded in 1982 as the Association pour la Sauvegarde du Chemin de fer Carentan-Carteret, (ASCCC), which became in 1983, the Association pour la Sauvegarde du Chemin de fer Carentan-Carteret et Coutances - Cherbourg under pressure of the Cherbourg
Cherbourg-Octeville
-Main sights:* La Glacerie has a race track.* The Cité de la Mer is a large museum devoted to scientific and historical aspects of maritime subjects.* Cherbourg Basilica* Jardin botanique de la Roche Fauconnière, a private botanical garden.* Le Trident theatre...
and Coutances
Coutances
Coutances is a commune in the Manche department in Normandy in north-western France.-History:Capital of the Unelli, a Gaulish tribe, the town took the name of Constantia in 298 during the reign of Roman emperor Constantius Chlorus...
councils.
On 14 July 1984, after pressure from several municipalities and inhabitants of the Manche
Manche
Manche is a French department in Normandy named after La Manche , which is the French name for the English Channel.- History :Manche is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
département, the association increased its interest to the preservation of all local railways in the Manche
Manche
Manche is a French department in Normandy named after La Manche , which is the French name for the English Channel.- History :Manche is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
and became Association pour les Transports en Commun de la Manche (ATCM). In July, as a promoter of tourism in the region, it changed once more its name to Association Tourisme et Chemins de fer de la Manche.
From 21 December 1988 to 30 June 1994, the Train Touristique du Cotentin ran trains on a 10 km section of track from Carentan
Carentan
Carentan is a small rural town near the north-eastern base of the French Cotentin Peninsula in Normandy in north-western France near the port city of Cherbourg-Octeville. Carentan has a population somewhat over 6,000 and is now administratively organized as a commune in the Manche department...
to Baupte
Baupte
Baupte is a commune in the Manche department in the Basse-Normandie region in north-western France....
with a 1950s railcar, then the X3825, the X2426
SNCF Class X 2400
SNCF's X 2400 are a class of railcars. The 79 XABDP 2400, unifiés 600 hp were built from 1951 to 1955. They were capable of carrying 12 passengers in 1st class and 56 in 2nd class, they were 27 m long and capable of reaching a top speed of 120 km/h...
.
From 23 June 1990, the TTC also runs trains between Barneville-Carteret
Barneville-Carteret
Barneville-Carteret is a commune in the Manche department in the Basse-Normandie region in north-western France. It is situated on the western coast of the Cotentin peninsula some 30 km south of Cherbourg. It consists of three small urban areas, Barneville Bourg, Barneville Plage and Carteret...
and Portbail
Portbail
Portbail is a commune in the Manche department in north-western France.-Heraldry:The arms of Portbail are blazoned :Azure, a chevron abased, between in fess 3 mullets Or and a lancehead argent.-Demography:...
on a 9 km long section of track. Its main haulling power being a set of three 1930S passenger coaches and the BB63069. The X2426
SNCF Class X 2400
SNCF's X 2400 are a class of railcars. The 79 XABDP 2400, unifiés 600 hp were built from 1951 to 1955. They were capable of carrying 12 passengers in 1st class and 56 in 2nd class, they were 27 m long and capable of reaching a top speed of 120 km/h...
sold to PontAuRail
PontAuRail
PontAuRail is an voluntary association created in 1995 to run trains between Pont-Audemer and Honfleur in France. The group comprises approximately fifty voluntary members, of which twenty are active....
in 1995 and the X3825 to Quercyrail in 1998.
Stations
- Portbail
- Saint-Georges-de-la-Rivière
- Saint-Jean-de-la-Rivière
- Barneville
- Carteret