Mezel and Châteauredon are two villages in the valley of l’Asse. Mézel is a small village, 15 km south of Digne-les-Bains. It’s a long, narrow village, with one long main street, the Rue Grande, set back from the D907 road that passes by on the East side of the village. Mezel is just under 1.5km south of the railway station. Châteauredon is also a small village. It is less than 1.5km to the Northeast of the railway station. The l’Asse flows to the Southeast of both villages.

Mezel/Châteauredon Station is roughly midway between the two villages and is sited between the ‘D907’ and the ‘D17’.Mézel/Châteauredon Station, (c) Kjell Strandberg. [1]

We set off from the station, initially in a westerly direction and the line runs on the north side of the ‘D17’ which can be seen to the left of the line in the first image below.Just under a kilometre from the station, the ‘D17’ crosses the line by means of a level crossing. The two images above are taken from the cab of an autorail approaching the level crossing. [2]

The two views below come from Google Streetview. The first is taken of the crossing looking northwest, the second is taken looking back to the Southeast.The crossing keeper’s cottage remains!

The road continues to follow the railway but now on its northeast side. They are immediately adjacent to one another once again by the time the railway reaches l’Arrêt des Lavandes.

Road and rail remain close for a further kilometre or so before the road turns sharply under the railway through a low single lane bridge. Immediately after the bridge (below) the railway turns through 90 degrees from a northwesterly trajectory to a northeasterly alignment and gradually pulls away from the ‘D17’.The railway curves away to the north. [2]

The next structure on the line is the bridge of Le Chaffaut de Saint-Jurson over the Torrent de Roche Chave as shown on the adjacent map and the staellite image below.The bridge is a fine masonry arched viaduct, seen first from the upstream side. [3]And then from the downstream side. [3]

About a kilometre further north is the Arrêt de Saint-Jurson, immediately adjacent to a level crossing for the village road.L’Arrêt de Saint-Jurson, immediately adjacent the level crossing and so very close to what was the crossing keepers cottage. [4]

After the Halt for Saint-Jurson, the railway curves gently round towards a Westerly direction, crossing the Torrent du Bat de l’Anesse and then passing under and accommodation bridge which carries part of the road called Les Hermittes over the line. After travelling under the overbridge, trains then sweep round to a more Northerly direction before entering the Tunnel des Hermittes. The tunnel is 300 metres long and sits about 580 metres above sea-level. Once again the tunnel is marked on the plan below with red, blue and green dots. [5]

The southern portal. [6]Two images (above) of the northeastern portal. [5][6]

After leaving the northeastern portal of the Tunnel des Hermittes, trains crossed the Ravin de Saint-Pierre and entered the small halt which serves the Golf Course at Digne-les-Bains. L’Arret on the rail-simulator. [7] I have not been able to find any photographs of the halt.

North of the Golf Course, the line begins to run alongside the Route de Chaffaut and then enters another Station – La Gare de Gaubert-Le Chaffaut. A driver’s eye view (above) approaching the Gare de Gaubert-Le Chaffaut from Nice. [2]

The adjacent map shows the station site and the viaduct to the north.

The first image below is taken from the narrow lane to the East of the station.

The next two are taken from the same lane, the first just north of the station building the next a little further to the north of the station buildings.

The fourth image below is a rail-simulator image of the station. A rail-simulator image of la Gare de Gaubert-Le Chaffaut. [7]Looking toward Nice with an Autorail leaving the station. [8]Looking back through the station site after the train sets off for Digne. [8]An Autorail arrives from Digne. [8]

Immediately after leaving the station heading for Digne trains pass over a small viaduct which takes the line across a single lane road and the Ravin des Beaumes. The Viaduct over the Ravin des Beaumes, viewed from the East.The Viaduct over the Ravin des Beaumes, viewed from the West. On the D12 looking Northeast, the line crosses the road on a low-headroom bridge. Looking back along the D12 to the railway over-bridge.

A little further along the line it encounters an aqueduct. As can be seen below the aqueduct is dry at the surface. The first image below show an accommodation road-crossing on the left of the satellite image above, which is immediately followed by two views of the aqueduct. One showing its bridge of the D12 and the other over the railway. The last of the four images immediately below shows the line beyond the aqueduct and is taken from the D12. A driver’s eye view of the Aqueduc de Gaubert. [2]

The next point of reference on the line is the level-crossing at Route du Plan de Gaubert. The fist image below looks back along the line towards Mezel, the second looks forward to Digne, and the third shows the level-crossing viewed from the East.The level-crossing appears at the bottom of the adjacent map.

There is another halt just to the south of the river – L’Arret du Plan d’eau des Ferreols and then the line crosses La Bleone  and the N85 on its way into Digne-les-Bains.

An early postcard image showing the bridge over La Bleone. [10]Railway bridge over La Bleone and the N85 with the span over the road appearing to be much newer than the spans over the river! [9]The railway bridge over the river and N85 viewed from the West on the N85.A plan of the whole station site.The level crossing on Route Napoléon, Avenue de Verdon.The level crossing on Route Napoléon, Avenue de Verdon.The crossing keeper’s cottage, looking towards the terminus at Digne.Looking ahead towards Digne Station from the level-crossing on  Chemin du Hameau des Hautes Sieyès.The water tower at the mouth of the station yard in Digne – the railway stations are off to the left by a few hundred yards. Then picture is taken from the north side of the tracks.A view of the same water tower from the south.A line side view of the water tower and the station yard beyond. [15]Two images of the goods shed, the second is from the cab of an Autorail.  [2]A drawing of the good shed. [15]The Engine Shed seen from the cab of an Autorail travelling towards the passenger station buildings. [2]A line side view of the Engine shed looking East towards the passenger facilities at the station. [15]The Engine Shed from the south side of the station complex.A driver’s eye view of the line from the engine shed looking east towards the station platforms. [2]The turntable and Engine shed looking West. [15]Two drawings (above) of the Engine Shed. [15]Two images (above) of the pedestrian underpass just to the east of the Engine Shed. The first shows the north entrance and the second, the with entrance.Looking ahead from the cab of an Autorail. This gives a good idea of the length of the station site. The passenger facilities seem to be a very long way distant. [2]A larger scale map of the station complex.

The transfer building and platform set aside for the transshipment of goods from the metre-gauge line from Nice to the standard-gauge branch which fed Digne from the mainline to the West. [15]The original passenger station building for the metre-gauge line. [15]The station courtyard looking East, with the metre-gauge station building to the right and the original standard gauge facilities on the left. [15]Modern traction stabled on the line to the old station building. [13]A view across the passenger facilities of the station complex taken from the northwest.A view of the shared station platform at Digne in the 1980s. [12]Three images (above) in monochrome showing the shared passenger facilities at Digne. [16]A later image of the station after the removal of the standard-gauge lines. [13]A closer view showing the platform in use in the early 21st Century and the old station building for the Nice to Digne line. [13]The early 21st Century station! [13]The early 21st Century station. [13]Images of the standard gauge station from the North side of the complex.A closer view of the station forecourt highlighting the proximity of the two station buildings and their different architecture.The immediate station plan in the early 21st Century.These three images (above) show different iterations in the planning of the station with the bottom image best reflecting what was built on the site. [15] In the 20th Century the facilities for the metre-gauge line were altered to provide a shared platform with the standard-gauge branch.

On the south side of the site the land drops away from the station and in order to maximise the space on the site a significant retaining wall had to be built on the south boundary of the site.One plan showing the construction of the retaining wall. [11]An impressive shot of the Nice-Digne Line Station building and the retaining wall supporting it above the Avenue de Verdun.  [13]A further diagram of the retaining wall. [15]The retaining wall in the early 21st Century, two views (above) taken from Google Streetview.The Chemins de Fer de Provence Station Hall. [13]Three drawings of the Chemins de Fer de Provence Station Building. [15]

Two videos are included below which give a good idea of the condition of the station site. [14]

To finish this blog post I will include some postcard images of the station site from earlier year and then reflect a little on what might be happening in the future.

First the postcards from the CPArama website …..The standard-gauge PLM station and engine shed. [10]The station courtyard. [10]The two stations taken from the top of the retaining wall at the south side of the site. [10]The station courtyard from the West. [10]The PLM station looking West. [10]The Chemins de Fer de Provence Station Building. [10]The PLM Station taken from alongside the standard-gauge Engine Shed. [10]An early steam-hauled service is about to set off on the journey towards Nice. [10]

And finally, what about the future. ….

Traffic on the metre-gauge line is hampered by that fact that the standard-gauge connection to Digne has been cut. Christopher James has mentioned that there has been talk of a possible metre-gauge line extension to meet the SNCF mainline at Château-Arnoux Saint-Auban, however, this is probably beyond the resources of the Chemins de Fer de Provence.

In looking for plans of the Station Site at Digne les Bains, I noticed reference to a ‘Project de Tram Train Digne Manosque’. It can bee seen on the Openstreetmap plan below and is shown as a dotted line which runs from Digne (immediately below) to Château-Arnoux Saint-Auban.The project is intended to use the old standard-gauge formation and its line into Château-Arnoux Saint-Auban is shown above. The project now has a website: http://transport-provence-alpes.centerblog.net/12-projet-multimodal-digne-sisteron-manosque. Is the scheme feasible? There are some questions about this which appear in the comments on the website.

How likely is this scheme, does anyone know?

References

1. https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/M%C3%A9zel%2FCh%C3%A2teauredon/@44.010038,6.201066,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m8!1e2!3m6!1sAF1QipMAOPyxuAbfSVVUTAyfZOew2a0G07LK1iGfYxyI!2e10!3e12!6shttps:%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipMAOPyxuAbfSVVUTAyfZOew2a0G07LK1iGfYxyI%3Dw129-h86-k-no!7i1500!8i1000!4m5!3m4!1s0x12cb91840c767ed3:0xa02521aa30f35bdd!8m2!3d44.0097448!4d6.2007228, accessed on 19th August 2018.
2. http://www.rd-rail.fr/1-PHOTOS/PH43/index-ph43.html, accessed on 12th August 2018.
3. https://dossiersinventaire.maregionsud.fr/gertrude-diffusion/dossier/ponts-des-chemins-de-fer-de-provence/6db00f0d-4794-4fb9-8d66-a7675e5c748b, accessed on 12th August 2018.
4. https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Chaffaut-Saint-Jurson, accessed on 20th August 2018.
5. http://www.tunnels-ferroviaires.org/tu04/04070.2.pdf, accessed on 20th August 2018.
6. https://dossiersinventaire.maregionsud.fr//gertrude-diffusion/dossier/tunnel-ferroviaire-des-hermittes/77ea863f-d328-4776-b1ec-90bb186ff2aa/illustration/0, accessed on 20th August 2018.
7. http://www.railsim-fr.com/forum/index.php?/topic/10163-le-train-des-pignes/&page=2, accessed on 15th August 2018.
8. https://leonardetsesamis.com/1er-mai-2010-a-la-gare-de-gaubert-le-chaffaut, accessed on 20th August 2018.
9. https://structurae.net/structures/digne-railroad-bridge, accessed on 21st August 2018.
10. https://www.cparama.com/forum/digne-les-bains-t8.html, accessed on 21st August 2018.
11. https://dossiersinventaire.maregionsud.fr//gertrude-diffusion/illustrations/info?id=89daf5fe-9604-4fba-8755-6a48acf5a242&slug=ivr9320110400342nuc2a, accessed on 21st August 2018.
12. https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ligne_de_Saint-Auban_%C3%A0_Digne, accessed on 1st August 2018.
13. https://mapio.net/place/16814242, accessed on 21st August 2018.
14. These two videos are available on YouTube.
15. https://dossiersinventaire.maregionsud.fr/gertrude-diffusion/dossier/gare-de-digne-les-bains/704d17b3-45a1-4cec-bd88-9dc73d3724af, accessed on 21st August 2018.
16. http://cccp.trainprovence.free.fr/cccp/article-alpazur2007.html, accessed on 21st August 2018.

We will be resuming our journey from Thorame-Haute in just a few minutes, but as we wait for the train on to Digne, there are a few things to take in.

The first is the large chapel which has been built close to the station and which does not appear in the earliest postcard views of the station, nor in pictures which predate the railway’s arrival in Thorame-Haute. The site of the station was, and still is, the location of a special celebration in the Roman Catholic Church’s year in Provence. ….

The second, is the station itself.

1. Notre Dame de la Fleur

Thorame-Haute hosts an annual celebration in Pentecost each year, and also seems to be popular for other celebrations during the year. The first two postcard images show a celebration in honour of Joan of Arc which took place in the open air on 26th September 1909.

Large crowds gathered on 26th September 1909 before the railway had been extended through the mountain to the valley of La Vaire. [1]

This second postcard view was taken on the same date and shows the small chapel which existed at Thorame-Haute at that time. The festival celebrations were taking place in the open air. [2]

But … these are not pictures of the major annual celebration. A little research into local customs provided more information on the Pentecost season celebration associated with Notre Dame de la Fleur. I also want to acknowledge Christopher James’s help it identifying the reason for the chapel at the location of the station.

In the fifteenth century, a peasant farmer lived in Thorame, possessor of a modest herd which he led himself to pasture. He was a Christian with patriarchal customs. One day, he appeared before the municipal magistrates claiming the appearance of angels who marked a location, eight kilometers from Thorame, for the site of a chapel to be built in honour of the Virgin Mary. He had led his flock to the abandoned area and while he was praying, an angel appeared to him and as his vision ended he saw a single rose which came from the garden of heaven – a sign left for the shepherd to authenticate his vision, which earned the Virgin Mary the title of “Our Lady of the Flower. [3][10]

Fr. Juvenal Pélissier was born in Allos on 1st January 1879. In 1920, he was entrusted with the spiritual education of the parishioners of Méailles and Peiresc, in 1925 he moved to the parish of Thorame Haute. For many years he made every effort to create a new chapel at the site of the vision and visitation. His parish newsletters continually and consistently focus on the legend of Our Lady of the Flower. Eventually the foundations were started in 1936. [10]

The present chapel building dates from the 1930s. It is the work of Abbot Juvenal Pélissier who worked alone for more than a decade to raise money for a new chapel. It stained-glass windows represent different species of flowers which grow in the valley of the Verdon. [3]

A postcard view of the interior of the chapel. [6]

The Chapel’s Rose Window. [7]

The day of the Festival. [7]

The day of the Festival, (c) Christopher James. [33]

The pilgrimage. [11]

The pilgrimage, (c) Christopher James. [33]

The pilgrimage, (c) Christopher James. Christopher James says that the Crucifer is known locally as ‘Cocoa’. [33]

The pilgrimage. [12]

The pilgrimage, (c) Christopher James. [33]

Notre Dame de la Fleur. [7]

The tradition of the pilgrimage of Our Lady of the flower is still an integral part of the annual life of the inhabitants of Upper Verdon. The event is organised by volunteers. They prepare for the procession which starts in the main village of Thorame-Haute and ends at the railway station. In 2016, Marc LIboa and a team of volunteers provided a “reward meal” for all who participated in the procession.

The images immediately above show the participants in the festival eating in the shadow of the station close to the chapel. [5]

A similar scene (c) Christopher James. [33]

After this the religious ceremony took place, “orchestrated by Father Benedict of Colmars the Alps, Father Jean Boudoux Canon of Barrême and Jean-Louis Colombano who assisted them. Pilgrims were numerous and everyone was able to leave with a bouquet of blessed flowers, beautiful flowers prepared … by volunteers.” [7]

Inside the chapel, (c) Christopher James. [33]

Another view of the Chapel. [8]

2. Thorame-Haute Station

We noted towards the end of the last but one post that the site of the station at Thorame-Haute was inundated in the period immediately prior to it being due to be opened. A major rock fall delayed the opening of the line and required a significant retaining wall to be built in 1909 to 1911 to hold the land above the station.

The station site, the picture is taken from the D955 with the River Verdon behind the photographer. The retaining wall referred to in the text can just be seen to the left of the goods shed.

The same retaining wall is visible behind the stored carriages above. The station can just be picked out to the left of the image. This picture is also taken from the D955.

It can be seen more clearly in this picture. [13]

It is also evident on the right hand side of this postcard view.

A few photographs of the station show that a siding to the south of the station has been used for storage of redundant stock. It is clear that the metal surfaces of the carriages are ideal for graffiti paint! [9]

This panorama shot shows the three main parts of the station buildings, from left to right – the goods shed, the passenger facilities and the station buffet or restaurant. [4]

There is a rail simulator version of this line and I thought it might be of interest to see some stills from http://www.railsim-fr.com which show how this station has been treated. three pictures follow below. [14]

The overall impression is excellent, there are some detailed issues – such as the roof of the goods shed and the detail of the waiting shelter on the central platform in one of the images. Overall, these computer generated images give a good idea of the railway as it passes through the landscape. Tanguy has posted three images on the http://www.railsim-fr.com/forum for comparison … copies are provided below. [14]

This last image is taken from the top of the retaining wall referred to in the text. [14]

The onward journey

We climb about our train to head away south down the Verdon valley.The first two images below show a driver’s eye view as we leave the station. First we pass stored rolling stock and then head off down the single-track line. [15]

The D955 follows alongside the line at a lower level until it swings across the Verdon on the arch bridge above. A retaining wall is shown on the left of the picture which hods the railway above the road. The hillside above and below the line is very steep and retaining walls are needed along the length to secure the rock face above the railway formation.

The first image above is taken from the D955 on the west side of the valley of the Verdon. The second is taken from the driver’s cab in an Autorail on the line. [15] Both show the size of the retaining walls along this section of the line.

The next station is Allons-Argens. This next view is also taken from the cab of an Autorail, it shows the approach to the station. [15]

The station building from across the valley on the D955.

The D52 crosses the Verdon from the D955 and provides access to the station and on up the valley of L’Ivoire to Allons.

Allons Argens Station drawn by Phillips Vernet. [17]

Allons Argens Station from the river bank. [16]

Allons Argens Station from its access road. [18]

The old station buildings are fenced off. [19]

The station is a request stop and no facilities are provided for trains to pass. [19]

Immediately after Allons Argens Halt the railway crossed the River Ivoire on a single span stone arch bridge.

The line, which has been travelling in a generally southerly direction, curves first to the west and then to the south as it follows the east bank of the River Verdon. In about five kilometres, it crosses the river to the west bank and arrives at the village of La Mure-Argens.

Google Earth image of the bridge across the river. The view is taken looking North.

Driver’s view across the Bridge. [15]

Two images (above) of the rail bridge over the Verdon near La Mure Argens. [22]
A constriction plan for the same bridge, for a footway extension to the side of the bridge. [22]

A series of smaller photos, show aspects of the bridge and include two of the design drawings! [22] And then we move on the the village of La Mure Argens.

The two images immediately above were sent to me in August 2018 by Christopher James and show GECP ‘The Portuguese’ cross the bridge across the Verdon, (c) Christopher James.

The station at La Mure Argens (above) as depicted on a rail simulator. [15]

The station was no more than a halt with no facility for trains to pass. The village was around 1 kilometre northwest of the station which was set in open fields. The first image looks southwest along the short platform. The second image shows the station building elevation and is taken from the fields opposite. Both are from the CCCP website. [20]

Two level crossings which retain their crossing keeper’s houses take the railway across roads to the south of the town. The first shows the cottage in a copse of trees next to the line. The second covers a more major road.

The first road crossing taken from the southeast, (c) Paul Garnier. [21]

The second road crossing. The picture is taken from the north and is taken from Google Streetview.

Leaving La Mure Argens the railway crossed the valley of the River Issole on another graceful single span arch bridge of the same design as that crossing the Verdon north of La Mure Argens.

The Bridge over the River Issole. [23]

Driver’s view across the Bridge. [15]

Beyond the bridge over the River Issole (visible in the top right corner of the map above), the railway gradually drifts from a south-westerly course to a south-southwesterly course as it approaches Saint-Andre-les-Alpes railway station (in the bottom left above). there was a bridge over Route de Lambruisse (top right of the satellite image below) and the line then fed into the station.

The station approach. [15]

Closing in on the station. [15]

An Autorail at Saint Andre les Alpes. [24]

Looking north. [25]

The three images above are all stills taken from a rail-sumulator. [14]

An old postcard. [2]

Another old postcard. [2]

Looking South into the station site. [26]

Modern traction at Saint-Andre-les-Alpes. [27]

Saint-Andre-les-Alpes. [28]

Saint-Andre-les-Alpes. [29]

Saint-Andre-les-Alpes. [29]

Saint-Andre-les-Alpes. [30]

Modern transport at Saint-Andre. [31]

Steam at Saint-Andre. [31]
Renault Autorails at Saint-Andre. [32]

The station yard and old engine shed. [34]

We take another break here at Saint-Andre-les-Alpes and continue the journey on another day.

References

1. https://www.cparama.com/forum/notre-dame-de-la-fleur-cne-thorame-haute-t28159.html, accessed on 11th August 2018.
2. http://ubaye-en-cartes.e-monsite.com/pages/catalogues-des-editeurs/louis-gibert-photographe-editeur-a-saint-andre-les-alpes.html, accessed on 11th August 2018.
3. https://lalumierededieu.blogspot.com/2016/04/thorame-haute-notre-dame-de-la-fleur.html, accessed on 11th August 2018.
4. http://www.verdon-info.net/article-33961258.html, accessed on 11th August 2018.
5. http://www.verdon-info.net/article-le-pelerinage-religieux-de-notre-dame-de-la-fleur-thorame-gare-51092687.html, accessed on 11th August 2018.
6. https://collection-jfm.fr/p/cpsm-france-04-thorame-haute-sanctuaire-notre-dame-de-la-fleur-19144, accessed on 11th August 2018.
7. http://www.verdon-info.net/2016/05/thorame-gare-le-pelerinage-de-la-pentecote-toujours-actif.html, accessed on 11th August 2018.
8. http://photos-provence.fr/dpt04/thorame-haute.html, accessed on 11th August 2018.
9. https://twitter.com/EricFranceschi/status/998605228814557185, accessed on 11th August 2018.
10. http://www.verdon-info.net/article-33961258.html, accessed on 11th August 2018.
11. https://thorame-haute.fr/photorama2.php?lng=fr&pg=1166&mnuid=1122&tconfig=1, accessed on 11th August 2018.
12. https://www.sociview.com/tag/ruralité, accessed on 11th August 2018.
13. http://www.wikiwand.com/fr/Gare_de_Thorame-Haute, acessed on 10th August 2018.
14. http://www.railsim-fr.com/forum/index.php?/topic/10163-le-train-des-pignes/&, accessed on 10th August 2018.
15. http://www.rd-rail.fr/1-PHOTOS/PH43/index-ph43.html, accessed on 1st August 2018.
16. http://trip-suggest.com/france/provence-alpes-cote-d-azur/allons, accessed on 11th August 2018.
17. http://allons-alpes-haute-provence.fr/gare-allons-argens, accessed on 11th August 2018.
18. http://www.photos-provence.fr/dpt04/allons.html, accessed on 11th August 2018.
19. http://cccp.traindespignes.free.fr/gare-allons.html, accessed on 11th August 2018.
20. http://cccp.traindespignes.free.fr/gare-mure.html, accessed on 11th August 2018.
21. http://www.map-france.com/La%20Mure-Argens-04170, accessed on 12th August 2018.
22. https://dossiersinventaire.maregionsud.fr/gertrude-diffusion/dossier/pont-ferroviaire-dit-pont-de-quarante-metres/68bd7352-799d-467a-bcec-27700681b4e8, accessed on 12th August 2018.
23. https://dossiersinventaire.maregionsud.fr/gertrude-diffusion/illustration/ivr9320170400773nuc1a/f07ecd9a-9aff-4a7a-8546-f24732dd804b, accessed on 12th August 2018.
24. https://mapio.net/s/43943227, accessed on 12th August 2018.
25. http://www.map-france.com/Saint-Andre-les-Alpes-04170/photos-Saint-Andre-les-Alpes.html, accessed on 12th August 2018.
26. https://www.delcampe.net/fr/collections, accessed on 12th August 2018.
27. http://www.ferro-lyon.net/actualites/2014/570-Non-a-la-fermeture-de-la-ligne-de-Nice-a-Digne, accessed on 12th August 2018.
28. https://dossiersinventaire.maregionsud.fr/gertrude-diffusion/dossier/gare-de-saint-andre-les-alpes/84aee6d8-fcb5-47e6-8d33-e777faaa44d7, accessed on 12th August 2018.
29. http://cccp.traindespignes.free.fr/gare-standre.html, accessed on 12th August 2018.
30. https://collection-jfm.fr/p/cpsm-france-04-la-gare-de-saint-andre-les-alpes-train-19531, accessed on 12th August 2018.
31. http://www.saintandrelesalpes-verdontourisme.com/uk/discovering-a-region/our-‘best-of’/the-train-des-pignes, accessed on 12th August 2018.
32. https://picclick.fr/Collections/Cartes-postales/Thèmes/Train, accessed on 12th August 2018.
33. I have been corresponding with Christopher James about the various posts on my blog. He has very kindly sent me a number of pictures. These of the festival at Thorame-Haute were supplied as large size files (10MB+) which I have downsized for the blog.
34. https://dossiersinventaire.maregionsud.fr/gertrude-diffusion/dossier/gare-de-saint-andre-les-alpes/84aee6d8-fcb5-47e6-8d33-e777faaa44d7, accessed on 13th August 2018.

Its been highlighted to me that in my last post in this series I did not provide details of Thorame-Haute Viaduct. In that post, I provided rail-level images and then rushed on to the site of Thorame-Haute Station. This short blog is an attempt to rectify that mistake!  I guess you could also see it as a bonus for patiently bearing with me as I meander along the line between Nice and Digne-les-Bains!GECP locomotive, ‘The Portuguese’, breaks out into the Verdon valley as it leaves the western portal of the Tunnel de la Colle Saint Michel (c) Christopher James.The same locomotive crossing the Viaduct at Thorame-Haute, (c) Christopher James.An Autorail on the Viaduct. [1]Another Autorail on the Viaduct seen through the tree canopy. [2] This close up image shows the masonry of the Viaduct to good effect. [3]

These two images are taken from the Structurae website. [4] They have been selected to show the structure and it location rather than for any aesthetic consideration. Even so the structure appears graceful and dramatic. Not something that is noticeable at rail level or from a train. The arched voids in the spandrels relieve a significant amount of load from the arches of the viaduct.The viaduct and station at Thorame-Haute soon after construction of the viaduct was completed. [5]As a taster for my next post, the chapel immediately adjacent to the station at Thorame-Haute is the focus each year of a significant local festival. More of this in the next post, (c) Christopher James. [6]A final view back from Thorame-Haute Station towards the road-crossing and the Viaduct beyond, (c) La bête de Calvi. [7]

References

1. http://www.passion-metrique.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4143&hilit=BB401&start=1830, accessed on 31st July 2018.
2. https://www.pinterest.fr/pin/505951339359530943/?lp=true, accessed on 11th August 2018.
3. https://dossiersinventaire.maregionsud.fr//gertrude-diffusion/dossier/ponts-des-chemins-de-fer-de-provence/6db00f0d-4794-4fb9-8d66-a7675e5c748b/illustration/31, accessed on 11th August 2018.
4. https://structurae.net/structures/thorame-viaduct, accessed on 11th August 2018.
5. https://www.cparama.com/forum/notre-dame-de-la-fleur-cne-thorame-haute-t28159.html, accessed on 11th August 2018.
6. I have been corresponding with Christopher James over a number of my posts about the Nice to Digne line. Christopher James lives locally and travels on the line frequently. This picture was sent to me by email.
7. http://www.passion-metrique.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4143&hilit=BB401&start=1830, accessed on 31st July 2018.

Christopher James contacted me having read a number of my posts because he remembered images of a major landslide at Annot Station. He undertook some research and found a newspaper article and some photographs of the landslide at Annot. The images he sent me and the newspaper article are immediately below. We corresponded a little about the date of the landslip and I think we now believe that it happened as part of a major incident which occurred in November 1994.

On 5th November 1994 an extreme flood event caused the lowest and the second-lowest dams on the Var to collapse. The flood wave inundated parts of Nice, including Nice’s international airport which is situated near the river mouth. It was out of service for several days. The airport lost the business of 50,000 passengers, with damages running up to an estimated 4.5 to 6 million euro. Elsewhere roads like the RN202 were cut, power and telephone lines were interrupted, and three people died and four disappeared. [1] This estimate of lives lost is low compared with some, for instance HydroEurope say that 70 people were estimated to be killed, with large scale infrastructure damage and economical losses from the closure of the airport. The economic damage is estimated at 550 – 800 million Euros. Of the three most recent flood events the flows of 1994 were an order of magnitude higher than the others – 1994 (3680 m3/s), 2011 (1330 m3/s), 2016 (1280 m3/s). [2]

My blog: https://rogerfarnworth.wordpress.com/2018/04/06/nice-to-digne-les-bains-part-1-nice-chemins-de-fer-de-provence-57, provides a number of pictures of the damage done to the watercourse, it revetments and its structures. Part of the problem has been the gradual encroachment into the valley of the Var by various land reclamation schemes over the years. [3]

But these events are not a recent penomenon. The Observatoire Regional des Risques Majeurs (ORRM) En Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur has reported on a series of similar events over the past 150 years. [4] These events have occurred across the whole of the southern alps – Sisteron in 1886; Valette (Ubaye Valley) in 1982; Annot in 1994 and 1996; Rochaille in 2001; Villard-des-Dourbes in 2002; Barles in 2008, are all events mentioned by the ORRM. Their website includes the following photograph taken at Annot in 1994. [4]

As we have already noted, the events of November 1994 were of an order of magnitude greater than had been experienced in the catchment of the River Var in the century or so before 1994 and in the years after. Significant structures were destroyed, such as the Pont de Gueydan, immediately below.

The main A8 was cut by the river. The railway was cut at various points and it was 18 months before it re-opened. At the time there was a significant risk of complete closure of the line. The image below shows one of the ‘elephants’ along the line which was destroyed and had, along with the road and river embankment, to be rebuilt.

More damage to the A8 and the railway line.

The bridge at the mouth of the River Vesubie was destroyed.

The floods of 1994 were devastating for the railway and for the communities it served. They left a number of communities inaccessible except by mountain tracks. Rebuilding of railway and roads was no easy task and the subject of some wrangling about what was best for the communities alongside the river.

In 1994 a new highway was planned, situated in part on the right bank of the Var. This would result in a further reduction of the river bed in the order of 10%. The plans met with strong opposition from the riparians, who fought the proposed highway in the Administrative Court.

A decision was taken in 2001 to further investigate the road alignment. The highway was eventually built along a modified itinerary and under a different name. [1]

If anyone knows more about flooding and landslides that have affected the Nice to Digne line it would be good to hear from you.

References

1. http://potamology.com/exhibits/show/var_river_project_france/var_river_situation, accessed on 6th August 2018.
2. http://archives.aquacloud.net/17he/a/aquacloud.net/17he05/home/2-the-var-river/2-4-le-var-floods.html, accessed on 6th August 2018.
3. http://www.vliz.be/imisdocs/publications/36/253236.pdf, accessed on 6th August 2018.
4. http://observatoire-regional-risques-paca.fr/article/quelques-evenements-mouvements-terrain-marquants-alpes-haute-provence

After a detour up another branch tramway (Saint-Benoît Pont de Gueydan to Guillaumes) operated by the TAM: https://rogerfarnworth.wordpress.com/2018/07/25/tam-tramway-from-le-pont-de-gueydan-to-guillaumes-chemins-de-fer-de-provence-69, we continue our journey along the Nice to Digne line from Saint-Benoît Pont de Gueydan.Two images of the station building at St. Benoit Pont de Gueydan. It has been abandoned but once acted as the junction station for the TAM line to Guillaumes. The first looks back towards Entrevaux, the second looks forward towards Digne. [1]A Nice to Digne service at St. Benoit Pont de Gueydan Station. [2]Ballast train at St. Benoit Pont de Gueydan Station. [3]The station is shown close to the centre of the map above, which also shows the start of the line to Guillaumes, the Pont de Gueydan and the railway bridge across the River Coulomp. We are travelling West along the line. [4]  Two pictures (above) of the line west of Saint Benoit Pont de Gueydan. [5]

The first two significant structures on this section of the line are a bridge which carries the N202 over the railway and then the Tunnel de Saint Benoit which is also known as the Tunnel du Pont de la Reine Jeanne and is curved in plan and 110 metres long. This tunnel’s north-east portal is a matter of metres from the road bridge. The bridge is located under the red dot on the map below and the tunnel is marked by the blue and green dots. [8] The steel or wrought iron road bridge shown above [8] has now been supplemented by a more modern structure (below). [5]The western portal of the tunnel is shown is the various images below.  [5] The monochrome image is an old postcard which shows the railway and road tunnels alongside the bridge which provides the alternative name for the tunnel – Tunnel du Pont de la Reine Jeanne. [9] The following two images are of the same bridge. The first comes from the era before the construction of the railway and is taken from upstream of the bridge. [10] The second comes from the modern era and shows much the same view as the older image above this text. It is also taken from upstream of the bridge.  [11]Beyond the tunnel, the railway runs parallel to the N202 on its North side until reaching the halt at St. Benoit. [5] The two pictures above are the remainder of a sequence of photographs from this source which have taken us along the first length of the line to the west of Saint Benoit Pont de Gueydan to the next stop on the line – Saint Benoit Halte [5]Saint Benoit Halte before refurbishment. [6]Saint Benoit Halte after refurbishment. [7] The two pictures above are taken about 1 kilometre beyond Saint Benoit Halt. The track to the right of the crossing on the first image is the access road to Saint Benoit Halt. The line continues west alongside the small retaining wall shown on the second image. It then follows the N202 until reaching the next ravine – Ravin de Gross Vallon. On the road it is hard to even notice the ravine. On the railway the bridge is easy to identify. [5]From the N202, the viaduct can only be glimpsed through the vegetation.Google Earth provides the best view of the viaduct that I have been able to find.

The railway continues about 100 metres north of the N202 for a further kilometre before encountering another tunnel – Tunnel du Plan de Coulomp. [12] The Tunnel du Plan de Coulomp is shown on the map below by the red, blue and green dots. It is 75 metres long and is followed immediately by another viaduct and another two tunnels which are shown by a series of back dots on the map. These tunnels are known as Scaffarels Nos. 1 and 2.The eastern portal of the tunnel du Plan de Coulomp. [5]The western portal of the Tunnel du Plan de Coulomp. The picture also shows the retaining wall which supports the formation of the railway on the approach to the next viaduct.  [12]The view of the viaduct over Le Coulomp. The picture is taken from the N202 which itself is relatively high above the river.The Portuguese steam locomotive owned by GECP pulls a train over the viaduct heading for Annot. [13]The same viaduct but this time showing its full height. [14] And below, another view of a steam train, this time travelling away from Annot. [15]A short distance to the west of the viaduct, trains plunged into another tunnel – Galerie des Scaffarels. This was a protective structure avoiding the worst effects of rock and snowfalls. [16] It was 151 metres long. The first two images below are taken from the East looking at the tunnel portal. The third image is taken inside the gallery and shows the small arched openings in the south wall of the gallery. [16] The fourth image below shows the western portal of the gallery. The gallery is immediately followed by a 207 metre long tunnel – Tunnel des Scaffarels. [17] The first two images below are taken from inside the gallery and show just how close the two structures are to each other. They depict the eastern portal of the tunnel. The third photo below shows the western portal in cutting. The 100 metre cutting gives way yo open land and the line immediately encounters another halt – Les Scafferals. [5]400m metres after the halt at Les Scafferals, the line begins to swing round to the northwest and in a further kilometre or so the Station of Annot is encountered. [5] Annot functions as the usual terminus of the GECP steam services from Puget-Therniers. The station is shown in plan on the adjacent satellite image.

Annot is located some 80 km north-west of Nice, 15 km east of Saint-Andre-les-Alpes, and 13 km west of Puget-Theniers. Access to the commune is by National Road N202 from Saint-Andre-les-Alpes to Puget-Theniers which passes through the south of the commune. Access to the village is by road D908 running north off the N202 and continuing north to Le Fugeret. There are two railway stations in the commune: Scaffarels station, an optional stop built on a masonry embankment; and Annot Railway Station near the village. [18]

We finish this section of our journey from Nice to Digne at Annot station and with a few different vies of the station taken at different times in its history. [19] [20][21][22][23][18][23][24]The next photograph below shows a Renault ABH railcar and Billard trailer in the snow at Annot station in 1987 (Pierre Boyer Collection).

References

1. https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Saint-Beno%C3%AEt+Pont+de+Gueydan/@43.967581,6.75664,17z/data=!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x12cc41f9dc0aa187:0xf10a773ab9badd02!2sPont+de+Gueydan,+04240+Saint-Beno%C3%AEt,+France!3b1!8m2!3d43.969065!4d6.7597711!3m4!1s0x12cc41fbe0e4fe7d:0x425b3824df9b5b03!8m2!3d43.9678859!4d6.7570404, accessed on 26th July 2018.
2. https://www.cparama.com/forum/pont-de-gueydan-cne-de-saint-benoit-t28160.html, accessed on 20th July 2018.
3. https://mapio.net/a/60593367, accessed on 26th July 2018.
4. http://sierm.eaurmc.fr/surveillance/eaux-superficielles/etat-qualitatif.php?station=06710029, accessed on 26th July 2018.
5. http://www.rd-rail.fr/1-PHOTOS/PH43/index-ph43.html, accessed on 26th July 2018.
6. http://trip-suggest.com/france/provence-alpes-cote-d-azur/ourges, accessed on 26th July 2018.
7. https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Saint-Benoit/@43.960033,6.727445,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m8!1e2!3m6!1sAF1QipMXVem6e6mYYcyxeYWboq42DYz51wFSABmPfpoI!2e10!3e12!6shttps:%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipMXVem6e6mYYcyxeYWboq42DYz51wFSABmPfpoI%3Dw129-h86-k-no!7i1500!8i1000!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x12cc41f9dc0aa187:0xf10a773ab9badd02!2sPont+de+Gueydan,+04240+Saint-Beno%C3%AEt,+France!3b1!8m2!3d43.969137!4d6.759779!3m4!1s0x12cc6a3dfd6d4f0b:0xfc663905836cc5!8m2!3d43.9600332!4d6.7274449, accessed on 26th July 2018.
8. http://www.tunnels-ferroviaires.org/tu04/04174.2.pdf, accessed on 26th July 2018.
9. http://www.cparama.com/forum/saint-benoit-t28171.html, accessed on 18th July 2018.
10. https://entrepierres.net/wiki/Pont_Reine_Jeanne, accessed on 27th July 2018.
11. This image has been saved on my computer for a while and I cannot find details to attribute it. I’d be very happy to do so should someone contact me with details.
12. http://www.tunnels-ferroviaires.org/tu04/04174.1.pdf, accessed on 27th July 2018.
13. https://trainmec.blogspot.com/2016/01/la-portuguese-moving-in-steam.html, accessed on 27th July 2018.
14. http://www.proxiti.info/photoscommune.php?o=04174&n=Saint-Beno%C3%AEt, accessed on 27th July 2018.
15. http://www.cartophilie-viroflay.org/article.php?id_article=163, accessd on 27th July 2018.
16. http://www.tunnels-ferroviaires.org/tu04/04008.2.pdf, accessed on 27th July 2018.
17. http://www.tunnels-ferroviaires.org/tu04/04008.1.pdf, accessed on 27th July 2018.
18. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annot, accessed on 27th July 2018.
19. http://www.en-noir-et-blanc.com/rch-k1-171879.html, accessed on 27th July 2018.
20. http://www.map-france.com/Annot-04240/photos-Annot.html, accessed on 27th July 2018.
21. http://jan-san-climbing.blogspot.com/2017/05/annot-trad-climbing.html, accessed on 27th July 2018.
22. http://www.ravnsbak.dk/Railways/France/Railcars/Narrow%20gauge%20railway%20Nice%20Digne/index.html, accessed on 27th July 2018.
23. https://mapio.net/pic/p-7389278, accessed on 27th July 2018.
24. https://mapio.net/pic/p-80055650, accessed on 27th July 2018.

The line from Le Pont de Gueydan north to Guillaumes followed the valley of the River Var and ran through the Gorges de Daluis.

Marc Andre Dubout, writing in French, says that the line was probably the moist daring of secondary line construction work with very steep gradients, numerous tunnels, two remarkable bridges. He comments that it is the most impressive tramway from a tourist perspective with ‘unique viewpoints and singular landscapes’.

The proposed line was declared as being of public utility on the 10th February 1906. It did not open until 29th July 1923 and closed only 6 years later on 16th May 1929. The line was just under 19km long and had 17 tunnels, numerous culverts and retaining walls. This was all provided for just two daily services in each direction. [1]

As with a number of these lines, the expenditure was profligate and the value limited. by the time the line was completed road transport was already becoming reliable and more comfortable. The line stood no chance of being profitable.

The Gorges de Daluis is a 6km long canyon reaching south from Guillaumes to Daluis. The canyon was formed by the River Var. The gorge [2] is cut in the red rock (sandstone colored by iron oxide, 260 million years old). [3]  Notable views along the gorge (a touristic high point[3] and one of a number of “long, lonely canyons” in the area)[4] include the final waterfall of the Clue d’Amen. [5][6]The Gorges de Daluis are to the West of the dominant Dome de Barrot. [1]The Gorges de Daluis are narrow and dramatic! [1]

The station at St. Benoit Pont de Gueydan was the junction station for the line north through the Gorges de Daluis. The tramway followed the road round the bluff which faced  west across the River Var and entered its first tunnel as it rounded the curve. The main road (N202) continues West and the D902 travels north up the valley of the Var using the old tramway tunnel.The south portal.The postcard view (above) of the north portal shows the old bridge on the main road – Le Pont de Gueydan. The image below shows the old bridges more clearly.The same bridges from the south side.This image clearly shows the tramway in place.

After the old bridges were removed there was a temporary structure in place for a time. This is shown in the adjacent monochrome image. A new structure was planned for the main road and was built in 1949. That new structure is shown in the picture immediately below. The image shows the south side of the bridge. [7] The image below that shows the 1949 structure from the north side. The old bridge abutments are still visible to the north of the 1949 bridge. The road tunnel is now disused. The third image below provides a final image of the tunnel and its north portal.The tramway and road travelled north through the relatively wide valley of the Var heading for Castellet-lès-Saussesm and crossing streams on the way. The original bridge over Ravin du Riou was also the location of a stop serving Enriez.The road/tramway followed the river bank and at times that closeness meant that the track-bed or in later days the road were disturbed by flood flows in the river.

The road ran below the villages of Castellet-lès-Sausses and Sausses with the next station being at the bottom of the road from Sausses, adjacent to another Ravin du Riou.

The tramway continued up the valley, tightly following the river. The departmental boundary sees the road number change from D902 to D2202 and we soon encounter a bridge over the Var, not for the tramway but for the D316. It is an elegant concrete arch with a capacity of only 3 tonnes.

At Daluis, the tramway crossed the Vallons de la Salette on a viaduct which has now been replaced by a modern structure. The viaduct is visible on the right of the picture on the left below and is circled in blue on the map. The red circle highlights the position of the station building. [8]Daluis Station Building. [1]Pont de Berthéou (Berthet). [9]

After Daluis, the tramway climbed steadily above the river and at the Vallon de Berthéon turned away from the Var to negotiate the tributary, seeking to avoid  a much longer viaduct that was required higher up the valley. The Pont de Berthéou was the compromise position. The detour is shown on the satellite image below. The Pont de Berthéou is in the top left of the image, the River Var, at the bottom right. The picture immediately below the satellite image shows the road/tramway formation just before entering the Gorges de Daluis, clearly a significant height above the valley floor.The rock formations alongside the tramway/road have changed significantly in appearance. The Gorge de Daluis is , as we have already noted, in an area of red sandstone. The satellite image below sows that this is a very discrete area. Both Daluis and Guillaumes are shwn on the image and it is just possible to pick out the Vallon de Berthéon on the western edge of the red sanstone to the Northeast of Daluis.The commune of Guillaumes has produced information about this distinctive area. Tourist brochures [10], are supplemented by detailed geological information. [11].

At the end of the Paleozoic Era, about 250 million years ago, following the erosion of a Hercynian crystalline massif, now extinct, clay sediments, quartz, mica flakes, minerals rich in iron and volcanic ash settled on the site of the dome of Barrot which was then a floodplain. As they accumulated, these sediments were sunk into a collapsing basin (a graben in distension, named the Argentera-Barrot basin) where pressure and heat turned them into rocks called pelites.

The station buildings can be easily picked out on the images above. The ones below are annotated in French. [1]

The station buildings were sited on the south side of the town and the tram tracks ran beyond them (as can be seen in the sketch plan above). A loop was provided which extended into the village. [1] The postcard below shows the loop extending into the village and the second image below shows the same location in the 21st Century.The only remaining building is the passenger station building which is now occupied by a pharmacist. [1]

References

1. http://marc-andre-dubout.org/cf/baguenaude/daluis/daluis.htm, accessed on 22nd July 2018.
2. Rainer Eisenschmid; Provence, Côte d’Azur. Baedeker, 2011. p. 266.
3. Reinhard Scholl; Französische Seealpen: Alpes-Maritimes: Mercantour – Merveilles; 50 ausgewählte Berg- und Talwanderungen (in German). Bergverlag Rother, 2002. pp. 48–55.
4. Dana Facaros, Michael Pauls; Provence. New Holland, 2004. p. 254.
5. M. Victor de Cessole; “En Hiver: Ascensions dans les Alpes Maritimes”. Annuaire (in French). 24. Club Alpin Français, 1898. pp. 157–72.
6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorges_de_Daluis, accessed on 22nd July 2018.
7. https://structurae.net/structures/pont-de-gueydan, accessed on 22nd July 2018.
8. http://www.inventaires-ferroviaires.fr/hd04/04174.a.pdf, accessed on 22nd July 2018.
9. https://www.camptocamp.org/waypoints/439483/fr/pont-de-bertheou, accessed on 22nd July 2018.
10. https://www.guillaumes.fr/la-mineralogie and http://paca.lpo.fr/images/mediatheque/fichiers/section_protection/espaces/reserve_naturelle_regionale_des_gorges_de_daluis/documentation/depliant_presentation_rnr_daluis.pdf, accessed on 23rd July 2018.
11. https://www.guillaumes.fr/le-circuit-cyansdaluisle-circuit-cyansdaluis, accessed on 23rd July 2018.
12. http://www.tunnels-ferroviaires.org/tu06/06071.1.pdf, accessed on 23rd July 2018.
13. http://www.tunnels-ferroviaires.org/tu06/06071.2.pdf, accessed on 23rd July 2018.
14. http://www.tunnels-ferroviaires.org/tu06/06071.3.pdf, accessed on 23rd July 2018.
15. http://www.tunnels-ferroviaires.org/tu06/06071.4.pdf, accessed on 23rd July 2018.
16. http://www.tunnels-ferroviaires.org/tu06/06071.5.pdf, accessed on 23rd July 2018.
17. http://www.tunnels-ferroviaires.org/tu06/06071.8.pdf, accessed on 23rd July 2018.
18. http://club.caradisiac.com/interceptor-s4/cartes-postales-81352/photo/gorges-daluis-2cv-5554845.html#photo_5554845, accessed on 24th July 2018.
19. http://www.tunnels-ferroviaires.org/tu06/06071.16.pdf, accessed on 24th July 2018.
20. http://www.tunnels-ferroviaires.org/tu06/06000.1.pdf, accessed on 24th July 2018.
21. http://www.par-monts-et-par-vaux.eu/ponts_alpes-maritimes_1.html#Pont_Mari%C3%A9e_Guillaumes, accessed on 24th July 2018.
22. http://www.tunnels-ferroviaires.org/tu06/06071.18.pdf, accessed on 24th July 2018.
23. http://www.tunnels-ferroviaires.org/tu06/06071.20.pdf, accessed on 25th July 2018.
24. http://www.tunnels-ferroviaires.org/tu06/06071.21.pdf, accessed on 25th July 2018.
25. http://dan-randos-photos.monsite-orange.fr/page-592d18d4a3c5a.html, accessed on 25th July 2018.
26. http://draillescantoun.canalblog.com/archives/2009/05/11/13841773.html, accessed on 25th July 2018.