Prototype Modern French Railways, Mostly "Sud de France"

Focalplane

Western Thunderer
Never an intrusion, we often walk over that bridge, in fact I have a photo somewhere of the two gauges side by side taken from that bridge. Thanks, Paul
 

Focalplane

Western Thunderer
Villefrance le Conflet - SNCF interchange for leTrain Jaune.

After seeing the Yellow Train at Olette I drove back to Villefranche to see what might be happening at the station. This is the end of a branch line from Perpignan using standard gauge and overhead wires which allows passengers to switch to the Yellow Train. The branch line may have re-opened after the grade crossing accident at Millas last year but was closed for months during the investigation of who was at fault. If it is, then it would be possible to make a round trip via Toulouse and Narbonne but when I tied to work up an itinerary it was not possible to do it in one day.

Well, Villefranche is at a strategic point and is a walled town with Fort Liberia guarding it from above. Well worth a visit while in the area. The station is on the downstream side of the town:

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December 11, 2010

Classic French railway architecture. The Yellow Train platforms and offices/works are on the far side of the station:

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December 11, 2010

There are new trainsets:

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December 11, 2010

And a reminder of winters to come:

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December 11, 2010

The signage is important!

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December 11, 2010

The best way to travel in summer is by open carriage, but be sure to take a hat and a cold drink for the journey.

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Focalplane

Western Thunderer
Train Touristique du Pays Cathare et Fenouillèdes - The Red Train or Tpcf

The following weekend I visited the other tourist train which runs from near Rivesaltes to Axat along the Agly Valley. This is a private heritage railway which runs tourist trains that are diesel powered, either DMUs or loco hauled coaches. I stumbled on the headquaters and took a few cold December photos. A Santa Special was running that day.

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December 18, 2010

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December 18, 2010

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December 18, 2010

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December 18, 2010

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December 18, 2010

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December 18, 2010
 
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Focalplane

Western Thunderer
Back At Nissan Roadside in January 2011.

A dullish day for train photography but some interesting subjects on the rails:

First, a timber train returns west for another load of logs:

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January 20, 2011

Next a dirty bimodal Nez Cassé with a Grandes Lignes express:

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January 20, 2011

An eastbound TER EMU:

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January 20, 2011

And a westbound TER EMU with no interfering catenary posts!

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January 20, 2011

An older EMU goes east:

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January 20, 2011

A clean Nez Cassé on a combined tank car and car carrier turn, the car carriers were all empty. The loco has the original raised numbers.

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January 20, 2011

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January 20, 2011
 

Focalplane

Western Thunderer
Around La Boulou.

The new LGV from Perpignan to Barcelone is now operational but back in 2011 it was nearing completion. The main obstacle was the low point in the Eastern Pyrenees where the Perthus Tunnel was constructed. The approach from the north requires a steep gradient, probably at 3%. There is also a flyover crossover to bring French keep left trains over to the Spanish keep right side! This can be seen on all the usual satellite photos on line.

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23 January 2011

A view to the west toward Le Canigou, a 2,700 m mountain

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23 January 2011

The freight terminal at La Boulou is apparently there because of the need to run freight across into Spain by truck. It is a large complex and many container trains are pulled by two locomotives as seen in this 2 photo spread.

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23 January 2011

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23 January 2011

Next down to the Spanish border!
 

Focalplane

Western Thunderer
Cerbère (1).

The France/Spain border at the eastern end of the Pyrenees has a complex of railway stations, freight yards and more. The more is to do with the different gauges of conventional trains in the two countries, the Spanish gauge being slightly wider than "standard". When they are seen side by side the difference is obvious.

Although this thread is supposed to be about French railways, the border area is at least half French and French trains do cross the frontier into Port Bou. The area is mountainous, the Pyrenees actually sloping down into the Mediterranean with craggy cliffs and headlands. The frontier was redrawn at the end of the 30 Years War to be roughly coincidental with the watershed.

The frontier towns look quite similar, though Cerbère does look French and Port Bou has a certain Spanish air to it. It's the track layouts that are most similar and the fact that, being frontier stations, both are larger than need be to reflect their respective national "importance". Now both part of the EU and the Schengen passport area, the frontier has much less meaning than it did. And with the new LGV line through the Perthus Tunnel the rail services have also dwindled.

My first visit to Cerbère was a quick one with a walk around the station at "ground level". Later visits include a number of photos taken from hill sides above the town.

A general view of the sidings:

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January 23, 2011

Cerbère Station. Many regional French trains terminate here but seem to use Platform 3 of 5 available:

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January 23, 2011

The two tunnels into Spain. The white building above is the old, no longer used, frontier post.

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January 23, 2011

I'll talk about the two tunnels later.

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January 23, 2011

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January 23, 2011

A close up of the TER EMU waiting to return north:

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January 23, 2011
 

Focalplane

Western Thunderer
Cerbère from the Spanish border.

The coast road to Spain climbs out of Cerbère and affords some splendid views of the rail complex. This overview is looking north from the frontier with the station on the right and two sets of sidings to the left. Those further away are French standard gauge, those just visible in the foreground are Spanish gauge. The entire complex is built up on lower ground and the circular structure in the picture is not a turntable but an opening into a pre-existing road that runs under the complex.

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February 5, 2011

Both sets of sidings extend back into the valley and are separated by the Transfesa shed which allows freight cars (including a set used by Ford Motor Company) to take goods from France to Spain and vice versa without being unloaded.

Many of the French sidings are used to store coaches and older EMUs.

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February 5, 2011

A number of French electric locos, including the common nez cassés, are located near the station:

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February 5, 2011

A lone older French EMU sits at Platform 5:

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February 5, 2011

A close up of the Transfesa area:

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February 5, 2011

A Spanish switcher on foreign soil:

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February 5, 2011

Cerbère, though dominated by the railway is an attractive seaside town though a bit run down.

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February 5, 2011

By walking along a public footpath from the old frontier post it is possible get a better view of the two sets of sidings on the French side:

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February 5, 2011
 

Focalplane

Western Thunderer
Crossing over to Spain, but only to complete the picture!

Port Bou is Cerbère's cousin in Spain and is vey similar in plan, a valley taken over by the railway.

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February 5, 2011

The view above is taken from the coastal road above and to the south. The main difference is that there is no set of sidings facing south, only north. The station is also much more "impressive" though that image is somewhat spoiled by the lack of travelers to be seen crossing the border. It was all rather sleepy in those days (and will be even more so today).

A close up of the Spanish station (there are two French platforms on the right):

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February 5, 2011

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February 5, 2011

Zooming in, two RENFE trains waiting to depart to Barcelone:

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February 5, 2011

The view t0wards Cerbère with the two tunnels. Bottom right of centre is the wheel changing shed for Talgos. Most of the track in view is Spanish gauge except the track beyond the axle changing shed and the track to its left. French trains use this track to enter the two platforms on the right of the station.

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February 5, 2011

A Spanish (RENFE) EMU departs:

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February 5, 2011

Another view of the axle changing shed:

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February 5, 2011

The train in view is a Spanish local from Barcelone La Franca to Cerbère.

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Focalplane

Western Thunderer
A second visit to the Frontier.

A RENFE locomotive at Port Bou:

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Inside the trainshed at Port Bou, impressive but empty:

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At the north end of the station, tracks on the left Spanish gauge, on the right, standard (French) gauge. The dual gauge diamond crossing is where Talgos cross the standard gauge track to enter the axle changing shed.

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The view to the south, showing the French tracks on the left:

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Port Bou Trainshed looking toward France. Most impressive:

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I think this view is of the tunnel mouths to the south of Port Bou:

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There are more rooms in the station building than in the town! These are the two terminal French gauge roads.

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Focalplane

Western Thunderer
Ready for a roller coaster ride? Here we go!

Having taken many TGVs from southern France to Paris and Lille I had noticed the high speed triple junction near Avignon and decided to give it a closer inspection. What a splendid day out!

The three LGVs converge on a desolate limestone area across the Rhone from Avignon. The main line from Paris diverges, one route to Nimes and Montpellier, the other to Avignon and Marseilles. The third sector, Montpellier to Marseilles was built at the same time even though it is not used very much (something the French do more often than not). I spent most of my time watching trains on the Montpellier-Paris main line.

A Paris bound Double Duplex takes the center UP line:

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And passes my viewpoint, a dirt road bridge at the west end of the junction.

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A view through the wires and posts of the western junction. showing the two main lines to Paris and on the right the branch to Marseilles.

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In the opposite direction the main line to Nimes and Montpellier appears to be a roller coaster. I used a 450mm effective telephoto for this and other shots:

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And here comes Duplex TGV:

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Next a ?Dijon bound Reseau crests the main line:

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Next a Duplex heads southwest towards Montpellier:

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And onto the roller coaster:

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Followed by a Hybrid Duplex, the rare one:

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From the other side of the tracks, a Paris bound Double Duplex enters the junction:

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And its rear locomotive passes with a view behind of Avignon TGV station across the Rhone:

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allegheny1600

Western Thunderer
Many thanks for these pictures, Paul.
They're fascinating, it brings back memory's for me to see the border stations as I (with my parents!) used to pass this way sometimes when traveling through Europe in the seventies - when they still used to stamp your passport!
In those days, the railways were somewhat draber than in later years but still colourful compared to home railways.
I only experienced the SW high speed line back in about 1984 or so, that entailed traveling all the way down the line parallel to the canal du midi and changing at (I think!) Montpellier to catch a double orange liveried TGV from Marseille up to Paris, it ended up a two day trip but that was my fault.
There is a heck of a lot more HS line around now, those junctions are very impressive.
Cheers,
John
 

Focalplane

Western Thunderer
Poppy Time in Languedoc!

April and the wild flowers are blooming, along with the poppies that have probably self set from neighbouring fields. A nice contrast to passing locos at Nissan:

An eastbound regional TER EMU vies for redness:

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5 April, 2011

A Grandes Lignes clashes with nature! (Bimodal Class 22xxx):

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5 April, 2011

More colours with an "en voyage" bimodal on another cross country express:

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5 April, 2011

Going east, a "covered wagon" rake with a switcher in tow (probably being moved to a new location):

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5 April, 2011

Just around the corner at Nissan station, details of a heavy duty crossover. Those check rails!

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5 April, 2011

Another loco transfer follows, two light engines, possible returning from La Boulou?

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5 April, 2011

Within a seconds another passenger train pulled by a bimodal nez cassé. The all silver livery is particularly suited to this class.

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5 April, 2011

And then a container freight, probably from La Boulou, this time one locomotive.

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5 April, 2011
 

Focalplane

Western Thunderer
Back to Spain and the Talgo Wheel Change Routine.

We had spent the day near Roses in north east Spain and decided to see what might be running in and out of Port Bou. We were in luck, for a Talgo epxress entered the station, heading for Montpellier:

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May 30, 2011

The locomotive was uncoupled inside the station and a diesel switcher pushed the coaches toward France, heading for the axle changing shed. A
nez cassé can be seen waiting for the coaches to arrive.

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May 30, 2011

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May 30, 2011

The switcher is uncoupled and the French loco takes over:

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May 30, 2011
 

Focalplane

Western Thunderer
There is only ONE station with three track gauges in Europe!

The tracks have to be within the limits of the station. That's a challenge but I think I will win. This is Latour de Carol in the eastern Pyrenees. We have French standard gauge, Spanish Gauge and Le Train Jaune narrow gauge all within one station.

I have to admit I drove up to Latour de Carol because I needed the flexibility to take photos. And here they are:

First a rather uninspiring photo which shows all three gauges, Spanish on the left, Standard in the centre and Narrow on the right:

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9 December 2011

RENFE train waiting to depart on the left, the evening SNCF couchette train to Paris on the right:

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9 December 2011

The three SNCF couchette coaches. They will be added to a longer train at Toulouse for the overnight journey to Paris:

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9 December 2011

The impressive border station, within Trench territory:

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9 December 2011

The Spanish train, waiting to depart.

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9 December 2011

The overnight train to Paris:

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9 December 2011

The station building, mostly empty these days:

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9 December 2011

Around the back I discovered one of the dedicated snow ploughs, also often to be found in Toulouse:

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9 December 2011

And finally, as I was driving back home, I saw a Yellow Train to complete the day's events:

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9 December 2011
 

Focalplane

Western Thunderer
Near Maçon:

The main line from Paris to Lyons and all points south drops into the Saone valley near Maçon - great white wine country as long as you don't belong to the ABC (Anything But Chardonnay). The geology of the area is not only of scientific interest but also dictates the quality of the wines and the French know how to perfect a Chardonnay - hint, go easy on the oak barrels and plant the vines close together because they are vigorous and won't crop if given too much space.

When traveling to and from Paris I always wake up here because the trains do slow down on the 3% incline. The photo shows what is going on:

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Focalplane

Western Thunderer
Bridges on the Yellow Train Route.

Thwere are many bridges on the route of the Yellow Train west of Perpignan but two are particularly impressive. Driving the long way back from signing papers on our apartment we stopped off to take photos of the Pont Suspension and the Stone Viaduct respectively.

The Pont Suspension is unusual because it isn't really a suspension bridge though that is its name in French. So don't be pedantic on this one, please!

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April 17, 2012

Further down the valley the road affords a closer inspection of the truly magnificent stone viaduct. We stopped and found the gate open so naturally went on into the structure!

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April 17, 2012

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April 17, 2012

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April 17, 2012

And Mrs. A bravely posed on the inspection level:

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April 17, 2012

More recent visits have found the access to be off limits and to be honest I am quite pleased, we were experiencing strong winds while on the bridge.

Back on the highway:

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April 17, 2012

A few years later we crossed the bridge by train, so more photos on this one but from a different perspective.
 

Focalplane

Western Thunderer
Narbonne Station.

Narbonne is, today, the most interesting station in the area. It is the junction for trains heading from Montpellier to both Toulouse and Perpignan and hosts the odd regional train from Toulouse as well as the usual Languedoc TERs. North of the four main through platform roads is a large freight yard that is still used to hold trains and store stock. The autotrain terminal is a part of this though I think it has now been mothballed.

The main station building has the usual impressive architecture with a boulevard running toward it from the centre of the town:

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11 March 2013

Sadly the old Bodega bar and restaurant has gone, to be replaced by a modern self service cafeteria. It just isn't the same!

The train shed is small and only covers the first two platforms which easily hold 800m long passenger trains:

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11 March 2013

This is the view from Platform B toward the west, the actual junction is about a kilometer away (and there is a line joining the two branches but I don't think it is used much today, certainly not for passenger trains):

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11 March 2013

I was traveling to Paris on this occasion and after a few minutes the TGV Duplex 241 arrived at Platform D. Regular travelers in France will know that on TGVs all seats are reserved and you know where to wait for your coach by signs that combine coach number with letters posted on the platform. This means that a TGV need only stop for two minutes. Only on one occasion did the sign not match up with the train. The Conductor shrugged his shoulders and pointed to a seat, any seat, until reaching Montpellier where the trains stop for up to 10 minutes.

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I usually chose to travel upstairs on the Duplexes, a better view, a very smooth ride and adequate luggage space:

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11 March 2013

If making a booking early enough the website allows selection of the type of seat but as the coaches fill up the choices narrow. When we travel together we like to sit "en face" and there are few such choices on the single side of the corridor.

The four seat tables are often reserved for families:

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11 March 2013

I should add that first class travel is not necessarily expensive in France. We once bought "prems" from Paris to Narbonne for 46 euros each, First Class, with Senior Cards! Prems quickly sell out, as you can imagine, a normal ticket would cost us around 80 euros.

You may be wondering where all the passengers are - the line is under-utilized because it isn't high speed and the Autoroute A9 can be faster than the TGV as far as Nimes. Every seat is taken from Nimes to Paris, normally a non-stop run at peak times.
 

Brian McKenzie

Western Thunderer
Bridges on the Yellow Train Route.

Further down the valley the road affords a closer inspection of the truly magnificent stone viaduct. We stopped and found the gate open so naturally went on into the structure! View attachment 105704

C'est magnifique ! Almost a mini Pont du Gard - which aquaeduct and adjoining museum left a big impression on this colonial.

A little way from your neighbourhood, and definitely not modern :), the Menton to Sospel tramway route was fascinating, especially when the Viaduc du Caramel came into sight. (photos halfway down this page:
The Sospel to Menton Tramway Revisited (Chemins de Fer de Provence 51) )
I imagine it has been modelled a few times.
 
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