La Ligne du Littoral et ses Antennes, First Generation Electric Tramways – Nice-Cap d’Antibes (Chemins de Fer de Provence/Alpes-Maritimes No. 90) …

Leave a reply

Jose Banaudo writes,”As an extension of the Cannes Tramway route which linked Mandelieu, Cannes and Antibes, the TNL coastal line extended from Cap-d’Antibes to the Menton district of Garavan via Cagnes, Nice, Villefranche, Beaulieu , Monaco, Cap-Martin and Menton. These juxtaposed sections formed a continuous axis of 76 km of interurban tramway which served almost the entire coastline of the Alpes-Maritimes, from the Emite of the Var department to the Italian border.” [1: p35]

Jose Banaudo published a two volume set of books about the historic trams of Nice, “Nice au fil du Tram.” Articles based around the first of these two volumes can be found on this blog.

This is the third in a series looking at the second volume. The first two can be found on these links:

https://rogerfarnworth.com/2023/08/26/the-first -generation-electric-tramways-of-nice-again-four -of-the-urban-lines-chemins-de-fer-de-provence -alpes-maritimes-no-88/

The First Generation Electric Tramways of Nice again. Five more lines. (Chemins de Fer de Provence/Alpes-Maritimes No. 89) …

Nice – Cap d’Antibes

Of a total length of nearly 26.5 kilometres, the first 7.8 kilometres of this route (as far as St. Laurent-du-Var) were over the rails of Nice’s urban tram network. Cagnes was a further 4.8 kilometres along the coast and the length of the tracks between Cagnes and Cap-d’Antibes was 13.75 kilometres. The maximum gradient on the line was 49mm/metre with 2.22 kilometres on the level and 24.75 kilometres on a gradient, however shallow. The highest point on the route was on the length approaching Cap-d’Antibes.

Nice to Cagnes and Antibes services departed from Place Masséna, following Rue Masséna and Rue de France towards St. Augustin on the main East-West urban line. The double-track  lines ended “beyond the stop serving the station called Le Var by the PLM then Nice-St.Augustin by SNCE Shortly after, a branch operated on race days served the Hippodrome … located on the left bank of the Var at the location occupied today by the postal sorting centre and the airport parking lot.  The River Var  was crossed on the bridge which carried both national road 7 and the PLM bridge, Marseille – Nice line.” [1: p35]

The TNL tracks were in the shoulder of the RN7 over the bridge across the River Var. This image was shared on the Comte de Nice et son Histoire Facebook Group by Jean-Paul Bascoul on 18th December 2020. [4]
St. Laurent-du-Var Railway Station. The tracks of the TNL can be seen in the foreground. This image was shared on the Comte de Nice et son Histoire Facebook Group by Alain Nissim on 10th July 2021. [5]
The same location in the 1960s. The railway station building has been replaced and the level crossing now serves a more significant road. This image was shared on the Comte de Nice et son Histoire Facebook Group by Mike LeFotographe on 17th October 2022. [6]
St. Laurent-du-Var Railway Station in 2023. A footbridge has replaces the level-crossing but the station building is much the same as it was in the mid-20th century. [Google Streetview, April 2023]
Another view of St. Laurent-du-Var, this time from the West. The PLM lines through the station are on the left. The tracks of the TNL lines can be seen within the road surface on the right. This image was shared by Alain Nissim on the Comte de Nice et son Histoire Facebook Group on 10th July 2021. [5]
The picture above had a PLM train at St. Laurent-du-Var station, this shows a TNL tram on the RN7. [7]
A similar view to that shown in the two monochrome images above. [Google Streetview, August 2022]

Trams stopped at the level crossing of the St. Laurent-du-Var station, at the point where the road leading to the centre of the town diverged from the RN7. “Beyond that, the track remained on the RN7 through the hamlet of Cros and then passed over the PLM line in the La Bégude district.  The old town of Cagnes and its castle, built on a hill overlooking the modern districts, was seen while the River Cagne was crossed on an ancient donkey bridge.  Beyond this structure, a station served the centre of the locality where a two-track shed served as a depot.” [1: p36] 

Further west, the bridge over the River Malvan was followed by the PLM Cagnes Gare. This was the point at which lines of the TAM network to Venice and Grasse met with the TNL lines. Those two lines were opened in December 1911 but not connected to the TNL line until October 1917.

A TNL tram leaves Cagnes-sur-Mer heading for Nice. Haut de Cagnes is in the background. [8]
Avenue des Freres-Roustan early in the 20th century, looking North. [8]
The same view/location I think, in 2023. [Google Streetview, March 2023]
Avenue-de-la-Gare in the early 20th century. So little of this scene remains. [8]
Place-de-la-Gare in the early 20th century, again little of this scene remains. [8]
A typical view looking South on Avenue-de-la-Gare in 2023. The motorway runs between the road and the railway station, much of the west side of the street has been redeveloped as well. [Google Streetview, April 2023]
The South end of l’Avenue de la Gare. The TNL tram rails can be seen in the road surface. It is difficult to confirm this location in the 21st century. [8]

These different tram lines working in close proximity on the same site required special precautions, so as to avoid any accidental contact between the incompatible overhead lines of the two companies (550 V DC for the TNL and 6600 V single-phase AC for the TAM).

After leaving Cagnes, TNL trams ran past the location of an Alpine hunters camp. This image was shared on the Comte de Nice et son Histoire Facebook Group by Alain Nissim on 6th February 2023. [9]

Leaving Cagnes through the St. Véran district, the TNL line ran on the shoulder of the NR7. It ran past the location of an Alpine hunters camp and then crossed the River Loup on a metal bridge. Sadly, I have not been able to find old views of the bridge over the Loup.

Le pont routier de la Loup looking Northeast towards Nice. Trams ran along the shoulder of the highway over the bridge. The Pont du Loup had 3 metal spans (of 14m, 17m and 14m). [Google Streetview, April 2023]

The line ran between the Vaugrenier pine forest and the PLM line, close to the sea and adjacent to the RN7. Jose Banaudo says that there were two stops with sidings (presumably passing loops) before the tramway crossed the River Brague on a shared bridge with the RN7. The Pont de la Brague, constructed close to the start of the 20th century, had three substantial arches. The spandrels of the centre-span had arched voids which relieved weight on the arch and allowed additional capacity for times when the river was in flood.

Le pont routier de la Brague in the 19th century which was rebuilt for road and tram at the turn of 20th century. [10]
The bridge built in the early 29th century as it appeared in 2014 © Patrick Janicek and made available for use under a Creative Commons Licence (CC BY 2.0 DEED
Attribution 2.0 Generic). [11]
A new walkway was made in 2012 along the banks of the River Brague looking East under the road bridge towards the railway and the sea © Nice-Matin 2012. [12]
La Brague, showing the river with the Pont Routier on the left. Trams ran in the shoulder of the highway over the bridge. [Google Maps, October 2023]
Le pont routier de la Brague looking North towards Nice along the RN7, now numbered the D6007. It carried the tramway in the shoulder of the highway. [Google Streetview, April 2023]

The city of Antibes then came into view. First, trams passed Fort Carré, and then entered Antibes across a narrow road bridge over the PLM railway. The Pont d’Antibes had one metal span of 11m. Just beyond the bridge there was a short (118m) connection to ‘la gare PLM d’Antibes’ where there was a passing loop and shed.

There was a shuttle service between the Cap d’Antibes and the PLM station.

A tram sits at the terminus of the short branch on Avenue de la Gare (today Robert-Soleau) in Antibes, ready to provide a shuttle to Cap-d’Antibes. The station building is visible beyond the tram. [1: p37]

The tram in the picture above sits at the terminus of the short (0.3km) line from the railway station in Antibes which connected to the line from Nice.

After just over 0.2 km the line reached the southern end of Place Jean-Macé (then Place de la Victoire and today Général De Gaulle) where the TNL rails intersected with the tramway from Cannes (CTC) which had its terminus in Place Guynemer.  Banaudo comments: “Originally, the tracks of the two companies only crossed, but a connection was established between them during the First World War to allow the circulation of direct freight trains between Nice and Cannes.  Depending on the direction of traffic, the tram stopped on one side or the other of this intersection, near which a waiting room was set up on the ground floor of a building.” [1: p36]

The Antibes terminus of the tram route to/from Cannes in Place Guynemer.. [14]

From what is now Place General de Gaulle, trams ran along the Boulevard du Cap (today Albert Premier).

The Cap-d’Antibes shuttle service on Boulevard du Cap (today Albert 1st) in Antibes © Nice-Matin. [16]
The Place General de Gaulle looking Southeast towards the Boulevard Albert 1er. It is difficult to locate the monochrome image above. [Google Streetview July 2022]
Place General de Gaul le and Boulevard Albert 1er in Antibes in 2023. The monochrome photograph above is likely to have been taken from a location on the bottom-right of this image. [Google Earth, October 2023]
A view looking Northwest along Boulevard Albert 1er towards Place General de Gaulle from approximately the same location as the monochrome image above. [Google Streetview, July 2023]

Trams ran in the road close to the beach at La Salis and then followed the Boulevard du Cap as it began to rise between villas and gardens which it served by a series of fixed and optional stops. Two passing loops were provided, one of which was at Chemin des Contrebandiers. 

Looking Southwest along Boulevard de la Garoupe, the route of the TNL towards the terminus. Chemins des Contrabandieres is on the left. [Google Streetview, April 2023]

The Cap-d’Antibes terminus was established towards the south-west end of the peninsula, between the Grand Hôtel du Cap and the Graillon Tower.

The tram terminus on Cap d’Antibes © Nice-Matin. [16]
A view from almost the same location as the monochrome image above. The modern bus stop sits close to the location of the old tram terminus. [Google Streetview, April 2023]

This brings us to the westerly limit of the TNL. The CTC tramway to Cannes is a matter for another time.

To bring the trams to the Cap d’Antibes was a costly exercise. It was a steep, wooded promontory. It was also necessary to undertake costly work to widen existing roads. A generous loan on good repayment terms was agreed by the local authority.

The work included in the contract was the widening of local roads from 6.15m to 8m and the laying of the tram tracks.

Originally trams from Nice covered the full length of the line through Antibes and out onto the Cap d’Antibes. In the post-war years, the Nice and Cap-d’Antibes services were separated, the former running to Place Jean-Macé and the latter leaving from the PLM Station. [1: p38]

References

  1. Jose Banaudo; Nice au fil du Tram, Volume No. 2: Les Hommes, Les Techniques; Les Editions de Cabri, Breil-sur-Roya, France, 2005. This is a French language text.
  2. Not used.
  3. Not used.
  4. https://www.facebook.com/groups/ciccoli/permalink/2974470189465497/?app=fbl, accessed on 30th September 2023.
  5. https://www.facebook.com/groups/ciccoli/permalink/3136429316602916/?app=fbl, accessed on 30th September 2023.
  6. https://www.facebook.com/groups/ciccoli/permalink/3517639871815190/?app=fbl, accessed on 30th September 2023.
  7. https://saintlaurentduvar.fr/blog/la-gare-travers-l-histoire-un-quartier-en-mutations, accessed on 30th September 2023.
  8. https://www.cparama.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=165, accessed on 30th September 2023.
  9. https://www.facebook.com/groups/ciccoli/permalink/3612075812371595/?app=fbl, accessed on 30th September 2023.
  10. https://www.nicematin.com/vie-locale/le-pont-de-la-brague-une-douloureuse-histoire-468926, accessed on 6th October 2023.
  11. https://www.flickr.com/photos/marsupilami92/13741672855, accessed on 6th October 2023.
  12. https://www.nicematin.com/faits-divers/les-berges-de-la-brague-s-offrent-une-nouvelle-jeunesse-364539, accessed on 6th October 2023.
  13. Not used.
  14. Not used.
  15. https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fstatic01.nicematin.com%2Fmedia%2Fnpo%2F1440w%2F2016%2F11%2F34718603.jpg&tbnid=vZ5-SLb0NRZBNM&vet=1&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nicematin.com%2Fvie-locale%2Fewan-sur-la-piste-d-un-tramway-nomme-desir-96168&docid=E3doVhjrbZkPUM&w=1440&h=888&source=sh%2Fx%2Fim%2Fm4%2F2#imgrc=vZ5-SLb0NRZBNM, accessed on 30th September 2023.
  16. https://www.nicematin.com/vie-locale/ewan-sur-la-piste-d-un-tramway-nomme-desir-96168, accessed on 6th October 2023.

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.