Chemins de fer du Morbihan explained
The Chemins de fer du Morbihan (CM) was a metre gauge railway in Morbihan, France, with some track in Loire-Inférieure. The first lines opened in 1902 and the system had a total extent of 433km (269miles).
History
The CM was a Voie Ferrées d'Interêt Local system. In 1892, the Compagnie des Chemins de Fer du Morbihan was given permission to build a network of metre gauge lines in Morbihan.[1] The first lines opened in 1902, with further lines opening in 1903, 1905, 1906, 1910 and 1921. The first closures were in 1935. Although railcars had been introduced in the 1930s, all rail passenger traffic ceased in 1939, along with another series of line closures. The passenger service was provided by buses from then on.[1] Most of the surviving lines closed in 1947 and the final closures were in 1948.
Lines
The main line was Gourin - Lorient - Meslan - Lochminé - Vannes - La Roche-Bernard.
Branches were from Meslan - Pontivy - Ploermel. Surzur - Port Navalo, Baud - Port Louis, La Roche-Bernard - Herbignac - Piriac-sur-Mer - Guérande, Herbignac - Saint-Nazaire, Pontivy - Moulin Gilet, Pontivy - Guémené-sur-Scorff.
Rolling stock
Steam locomotives
Railcars
- One petrol railcar is preserved at the Musée des Tramways à Vapeur et des chemins de fer Secondaire français (MTVS).[6]
Passenger stock
- B153, a bogie carriage, is preserved at the MTVS.[6]
Freight stock
The line today
The station building at Préfailles survives, recently restored.[7]
External links
- Rail Bretagne A site for all railways in Brittany, forums have photos of old postcards of the line.
Notes and References
- Web site: Histoire de la CTM. Compagnie de Transports du Morbihan.. 2008-03-18. fr. dead. https://archive.today/20070616021340/http://www.lactm.com/ctm/historique.htm. 2007-06-16.
- Web site: Locomotive Type 030 Pinguely Numéro 101 . CFBS . 2008-03-20 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20061126062335/http://www.chemin-fer-baie-somme.asso.fr/preservation/loco3.htm . November 26, 2006 . fr.
- Web site: Locomotive Pinguely 030 T des chemins de fer du Morbihan N°101 (1905). FACS. 2008-03-20. fr. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20080331210651/http://www.trains-fr.org/facs/50ans.htm. 2008-03-31.
- Web site: CFILM No. 103. steamlocomotive.info. 2008-03-20.
- Web site: From Malletts to Models. The Industrial Railway Record. 2008-03-18.
- Web site: Musée des Tramways à Vapeur et des chemins de fer Secondaire français. La France vue du Rail. 2008-03-19. fr.
- Web site: Extraits de "La Voix du Petit Anjou" n° 74, septembre 2007. l'Association des Amis du Petit Anjou. 2008-03-18. fr. dead. https://archive.today/20080705134440/http://www.petit-anjou.org/_fr/bull74.htm. 2008-07-05.