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-   -   Rural Tramways in Provence (https://www.railwayforum.net/showthread.php?t=16028)

RogerFarnworth 27th March 2018 11:03

Metre Gauge Tramways in Provence
 
In our many trips to Nice and Les Alpes Maritimes, my wife and I have seen a significant amount of engineering works, bridges, viaducts and tunnels all on lines which were neither part of the PLM network of standard gauge railways, nor part of the general metre-gauge network. It turns out that there were a significant numbe of line operated by tow main tramway companies in Provence, Tramways de les Alpes Maritime (TAM) and tramways de Nice et du Littoral (TNL).

These tramways ran on metre-gauge tracks but had a loading gauge not much wider than the track-gauge. In many places they ran alongside roads or withing the highway itself, but often they deviated away from the highway or their own formation.

The one which first drew our attention was the Sospel to Menton Tramway which was operated by the TNL. This is the story:

https://rogerfarnworth.wordpress.com...de-provence-51

RogerFarnworth 27th March 2018 11:11

There were two different tram networks in the Nice area. The TAM network (Tramways of the Alpes-Maritimes) is part of the Railway of the South of France. The other network was the Tramway Company of Nice and Littoral (NL). This post covers the history of the entire TNL network. The other posts will cover specific lines on the TAM and TNL networks.

https://rogerfarnworth.wordpress.com...de-provence-53.

RogerFarnworth 27th March 2018 11:12

The tram from Vence to Cagnes-sur-Mer was part of the TAM network. I have already posted on this tram elsewhere, but I have included it on this thread for completeness.

https://rogerfarnworth.wordpress.com...de-provence-17

RogerFarnworth 27th March 2018 11:13

The TNL built a line from Nice to Levens, it extended the urban line that went from Nice to Saint-André-de-la-Roche.

This is the first of two posts that focus on the line and covers the length from Nice to Tourrette-Levens.

https://rogerfarnworth.wordpress.com...de-provence-54

RogerFarnworth 27th March 2018 11:15

I just finished a blog on the TNL tramway line from Tourette-Levens to Levens. As part of the blog, I used modellers license ... the freedom to use our imagination.

The first half of the blog follows the tramway that migth have been built via Aspremont and Saint-Blaise to Levens. It was certainly planned.

The second half of the blog focuses on the current route along the M19.

I hope you like it!

https://rogerfarnworth.wordpress.com...de-provence-56

RogerFarnworth 31st March 2018 06:10

Grasse was at one stage full of different rail transport. Two TAM tramways, one from Cagnes-sur-Mer and one from Cannes approached the town from the south. A PLM branchline also linked Grasse to Cannes. There was a funicular railway linking the PLM (SNCF) railway station to the town centre, and there was the Chemins de Fer du Sud de la France Central Var line crossing the town on its way between Nice and Meyrargues.

This next post covers the first part of the story of the TAM tramway between Cagnes-sur-Mer and Grasse:

https://rogerfarnworth.wordpress.com...de-provence-20

RogerFarnworth 31st March 2018 06:13

The second half of my blog on the TAM tramway between Grasse and Cagnes-sur-Mer:

https://rogerfarnworth.wordpress.com...de-provence-21

RogerFarnworth 2nd April 2018 06:20

There was one other tramway in Grasse. It was not run by either the TAM or the TNL. This is its story .....

https://rogerfarnworth.wordpress.com...de-provence-22

RogerFarnworth 9th April 2018 06:48

Not sure that this is strictly on-topic, probably not, but it may be of interest if you are following this thread. I have already posted this elsewhere, but for the sake of completeness, this post was written when thinking about the coastal line leaving Toulon for Saint-Raphael.

It relevance here is that it focusses on the tramway system in Toulon. A further post about Toulon will be required at some stage to complete the story of the whole network. It includes the length between Toulon and Hyeres.

https://rogerfarnworth.wordpress.com...de-provence-38

RogerFarnworth 29th May 2018 19:15

As part of my birthday present this year my wife has given me two books written in French about the Trams of Nice. I am enjoying working out what the books say! This post relates to the relatively unusual practice of regular transport of goods on a tram network, which was common practice in Nice.

https://rogerfarnworth.wordpress.com...de-provence-60


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