Viaduct over the Sevre Nantaise in Western France

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Ian Roberts
Posts: 196
Joined: 24 Feb 2009, 16:42
Location: Sugar Land Texas

Viaduct over the Sevre Nantaise in Western France

Post by Ian Roberts »

The line from Chantonay to Fontenay-le compte probably should never have been built.
It was built between 1904 and 1914 as a means of bringing the railway to a largly rural area.
Although it followed pretty much the lay of the land, several expensive viaducts were required to cross river valleys.
The largest is the Pont de Barbin over the Sevre Nantaise near Mortagne-sur Sevre.
The first two photos are archival showing construction methods in the early 20th century
The next two show the viaduct today and the last is a close up of the track used. Bullhead as in England, but on steel sleepers with spring clips instead of wooden wedges.
The line closed to passengers in the 1930's, to goods in the 1950's except for the section from Chantonay to Les Herbiers which lasted to the 1990's.
The section between Mortagne and Les Herbiers is used by a preserved steam train in the summer.
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Ian
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