Usually when we come to Nice in the late Autumn we travel somewhere on the Chemins de Fer de Provence which runs from Nice to Digne in Provence – about 151 km.

Last year we travelled to Entreveux. This year we did not travel on the train, but walked alongside the line at St. Martin du Var. We also visited the renovated buiding that used to be the Nice terminus of the line. Renovation was only just completed. Here are two photos which show the change – the first from 2007 the second taken this week.

There was a display of some historic photos some of which you can find below.

Since late 2011 the trackwork on the line has been being renewed and they have bought four new DMUs for use on the line.

We visited Sospel in The Alpes Martime today and took the bus from there to Menton.

As we travelled down on the bus on the D2566 we saw a number of derelict viaducts.

After a little investigation on the Internet we were able to establish that a tramway was opened from Menton to Sospel in 1912/13 which at first was very well patronised with 1st and 2nd Class accommodation. Often freight wagons we attached to trams as they traversed the line.

When the main line from Nice to Tende was being built, the tramway provided an easy means for transport of materials from the coast. Sadly once the main line was opened usage of the tramway declined and it closed in the 1930s. The route of the tramway very closely followed the line of what is now the D2566. It passed through or close to two villages en-route from Sospel to Menton: Castillon and Monti.

References:

http://transpressnz.blogspot.fr/2012/02/one-time-tramway-from-menton-to-sospel.html

http://www.cparama.com/forum/ligne-du-tramway-menton-sospel-t4789.html

http://www.notrefamille.com/cartes-postales-photos/cartes-postales-photos-Ligne-du-Tram-de-MENTON-a-SOSPEL-A.-M-.–Le-Viaduc-du-Carei.-06500-MENTON-06-alpes-maritimes-553903-67098-detail.html

http://www.delcampe.net/page/item/id,80276116,var,Tramway-line-from-Menton-to-Sospel-the-Viaduct-du-Caramel-Sospel-Alpes-Maritimes-France-postcard,language,E.html

http://www.lafoireauxaffaires.fr/cartespostales/page1.html