The Chemin de Fer de la Baie de Somme CFBS (Somme Bay Railway), is a preserved heritage railway in the Somme Department of northern France. The railway is managed by a non-profit organisation, and functions from March to December between the towns of Le Crotoy and Cayeux-sur-Mer via Noyelles-sur-Mer and Saint-Valery-sur-Somme. It uses metre gauge tracks (common in Switzerland) and is formerly part of Société Générale des Chemins de Fer économiques. The Association was founded in 1970 and over the years it has become an important player in the development of tourisme in the Picardy region of France. The line is one of the closest French heritage lines to Great Britain. Noyelles is 73 kilometres (45 mi) from Boulogne-sur-Mer and 105 kilometres (65 mi) from Calais. Part of the line has dual gauge track, and although forming part of a group of five lines, at least a part of it has always been open to traffic.
This is the second of 3 videos taken on at day-visit to this marvellous line at the end of July 2024. There is a shot a train leaving the important junction station of Noyelles-sur-Mer en route towards Saint-Valerie (filmed from another train) and then real time footage from two camera angles (taken from the open-air viewing platform of one of the carriages) of the 6 km (4 mile) run to the station of Saint Valery Quai, which was formerly part of the town's goods depot and an important export point for local produce such as sugar beet, pebbles and shell-fish. The line between these two places is very unusual because it is dual gauge (metre gauge and standard gauge).
Saint-Valery Quai station is in the heart of the marvellous little town of St-Valery-sur-Somme which has become quite a touristic hot-spot due it market, very many interesting old buildings and fine views over the Bay which has a population of seals. The town is the railway's headquarters and there is a large depot containing the metre gauge rolling stock including some carriages recently acquired from Switzerland.
The video shows the salt marshes which has a unique flora and fauna and is noted for the production of a local delicacy called 'l'Agneau de Pré-salé' or 'Salt marsh lamb'.
The motive power on this occasion was steam locomotive N°101 0-6-0T Pinguely which dates from 1905. She is an ex-Chemins de Fer du Morbihan, Forges de Gueugnon and Fédération des Amis des Chemins de fer Secondaires (FACS) loco. She was restored to service by the volunteers at CFBS and first put in steam by the Association for its 'Fête de la Vapeur' on 27 and 28 April 2013.
At the end of the video there are scenes of her leaving Saint-Valery Quai station on her way bay to Noyelles and Le Crotoy.
27 сен 2024
