French Narrow Gauge Steam 2019

[Blue Diamond]

Spent a few days in France riding and photographing narrow gauge steam. Visited two remaining sections of the metre gauge Chemin de Fer Départemental du Vivarais. The Voies ferreés du Velay (VFV) between Raucoules - Brossette and Saint Agrève, and the Chemin de Fer du Vivarais (CFV) between Tournon Saint Jean-de-Muzols and Lamastre.
Motive power on the VFV was former PO Corrèze 0-4-4-0T no.101 (Blanc-Misseron no 337/1906) and on the CFV 0-6-6-0T no.403 (SLM 1492/1903) an orginal Vivarais loco.

VFV
PO Corrèze 0-4-4-0T 101 Voies Ferrées du Velay by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

PO Corrèze 0-4-4-0T 101 Voies ferrées du Velay by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

PO Corrèze 0-4-4-0T 101 Voies Ferrées du Velay by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

PO Corrèze 0-4-4-0T 101 Voies Ferrées du Velay by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

PO Corrèze 0-4-4-0T 101 Voies Ferrées du Velay by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

PO Corrèze 0-4-4-0T 101 Voies Ferrées du Velay by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

PO Corrèze 0-4-4-0T 101 Voies Ferrées du Velay by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

PO Corrèze 0-4-4-0T 101 Voies Ferrées du Velay by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

PO Corrèze 0-4-4-0T 101 Voies Ferrées du Velay by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

PO Corrèze 0-4-4-0T 101 Voies Ferrées du Velay by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

PO Corrèze 0-4-4-0T 101 Voies Ferrées du Velay by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

PO Corrèze 0-4-4-0T 101 Voies Ferrées du Velay by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

PO Corrèze 0-4-4-0T 101 Voies Ferrées du Velay by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

PO Corrèze 0-4-4-0T 101 Voies Ferrées du Velay by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

PO Corrèze 0-4-4-0T 101 Voies Ferrées du Velay by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

PO Corrèze 0-4-4-0T 101 Voies Ferrées du Velay by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

PO Corrèze 0-4-4-0T 101 Voies Ferrées du Velay by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

PO Corrèze 0-4-4-0T 101 Voies Ferrées du Velay by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

CFV
Chemins de Fer du Vivarais no.403 by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

Chemins de Fer du Vivarais no.403 by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

Chemins de Fer du Vivarais no.403 by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

Chemins de Fer du Vivarais no.403 by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

Chemins de Fer du Vivarais no.403 by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

Chemins de Fer du Vivarais no.403 by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

Chemins de Fer du Vivarais no.403 by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

Chemins de Fer du Vivarais no.403 by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

Chemins de Fer du Vivarais no.403 by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

Chemins de Fer du Vivarais no.403 by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

Chemins de Fer du Vivarais no.403 by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

Chemins de Fer du Vivarais no.403 by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

[Nighthawke]

Oh they're very nice! All the years I've been going to France and never been to a heritage location. Must do it soon!
Thanks for posting these.

[Blue Diamond]

Glad you like them.
Both visits were organised trips. The VFV wasn't running at the time so we had both the train and the line to ourselves for the day. On the CFV we had our own train but had to dovetail around service train and the Velorails (pedal powered vehicles) so had some restrictions on how long we could take at locations and between stations. The CFV runs through a gorge for part of its length and there are some very good shots to be had. Not really doable from the trackside as they would involve a very stiff climb so best done by car as you can park up at or close to the various locations.

[Nighthawke]

OK thanks for the extra info - lucky you getting the personal touch Came across the velorail in Normandy when my wife and I were cycling - quite an odd sound when you're not expecting it!

[Blue Diamond]

I prefer doing my own thing when visiting heritage lines but given the paucity of the services on these lines in comparison to UK operations, the opportunity to join a group and hire our own trains was too good to miss.

[Seahawk 11]

What a fantastic set of photos there, I would love to see these, many thanks for sharing them,

Rob