Vivarais narrow gauge in France

3rd September 2000

A few photos from the stunning Vivarais system in southern France. The line runs from Tournon, not far from Valance in the Rhone valley, to Lemastre up in the hills. I travelled on the last Sunday of the season when there were no tourists and locals had been invited. It was France at its best, laid back and enjoying life. We stopped for a break at Boucieu-le-Roi; the locals had set up stalls selling wine, coffee, honey, etc.

The Vivarais is currently closed. Its access rights to the mixed-gauge section near Tournon were terminated and it suffered other financial problems. Hopefully a rescue will come about - it was undoubtedly the best narrow gauge line in France.

0-4-4-0T Mallett No 104 at Tournon viv.1.jpg Buy Print	Sunday morning at Boucieu-le-Roi viv.10.jpg Buy Print	Taking a break at Boucieu-le-Roi viv.11.jpg Buy Print	Pausing at Boucieu-le-Roi viv.12.jpg Buy Print
Heading up the valley on a still autumn morning viv.13.jpg Buy Print	A 4-wheeled coach at Lamastre viv.14.jpg Buy Print	Coaling at Lamastre viv.15.jpg Buy Print	Our Mallett 0-4-0+0-4-0 viv.16.jpg Buy Print
No 104 waiting to leave Tournon viv.2.jpg Buy Print	Arriving back at Tournon viv.3.jpg Buy Print	On the mixed gauge elecrtrified main line outside Tournon viv.4.jpg Buy Print	Just after branching off the main line and heading up the valley viv.5.jpg Buy Print
Winding into the hills viv.6.jpg Buy Print	The track is excellent, and the trains take the superelevated curves at speed viv.7.jpg Buy Print	On arrival at Tournon viv.8.jpg Buy Print	Heading up the valley viv.9.jpg Buy Print