Le Petit Train du Jardin d'Acclimatation
N 48° 52.650 E 002° 16.712
31U E 447100 N 5414089
[FR] Le meilleur moyen de goûter aux charmes du jardin d'acclimatation avant même d'y pénétrer. [EN] This light railway is probably the oldest regular rail service in Paris.
Waymark Code: WM3TX3
Location: Île-de-France, France
Date Posted: 05/18/2008
Views: 48
[FR] Prenez le petit train Porte Maillot, et traversez nonchalamment le Bois de Boulogne au rythme de ses cliquetis et de ses sirènes sur 800 mètres.
Installé en 1880, ce petit train a débuté sa carrière en transportant les élégantes visiteuses de l'Exposition Universelle de Paris de 1878. Tracté à l'origine par des poneys, ses wagons permettaient aux promeneurs de rejoindre le jardin en traversant le Bois de Boulogne à partir de la place de l'Etoile. Son tracté fut ensuite modifié, et il se vit offrir de superbes locomotives flambant neuves qui en firent un vrai train miniature.
Ses couleurs toniques et coquettes, rouge, jaune, bleu et vert, et sa petite taille en font un transport plein de charme qui séduit l'ensemble de ses passagers. Ajoutez à cela une gare pimpante en plein cœur du jardin et un service régulier, et vous comprendrez aisément pourquoi cet ambassadeur de charme participe pleinement au succès du jardin le plus original de Paris.
[EN] A 50 cm gauge railway linking the Porte Maillot to the Jardin d'Acclimatation with a "dogbone" layout, in the Bois de Boulogne, Paris, France.
Timeline:
1878 - Opening of an experimental, short lived, line by the Decauville company inside the Jardin d'Acclimatation (following the refusal of installing a 50 cm gauge railway within Paris Universal Exhibition of 1878). Ten coaches - seating capacity 8 - hauled by two ponies were used on this 1500 meters line. Speed reached 15km/h while the line could accomodate up to 3000 passengers on peak Sundays.
1880 - A new company built a line from Porte Maillot till the Jardin d'Acclimatation. Operated by horse drawn cars. Minimum radius of curves: 8 to 15 meters. Length: 5 km.
1910 - Petrol (or accumulator ?) traction replaced horse drawn trains.
1930 - Line is reduced in length at both extremities, due to the construction of a car subway under Porte Maillot on one side (terminus is transfered to its current location on the route des Sablons) and the abandonment of the track within the Jardin d'Acclimatation itself.
1945 - Due to petrol shortage in the aftermath of WWII, batterie operated tractors (probably coming from the 1937 rubber tyres train operating in Paris Universal Exhibition of 1937) are put into use. Rubber wheels were operating outside the running rails. It seems however that the former petrol operated tractors were quickly put back into service.
1960 - Replacement of former tractors by 7 new Renault petrol powered tractors (with a steam engine look body). These new tractors are 3.05 m in length, 1.20 m wide and 5 tons weight. Their 55 HP motor ensure a 19 km/h top speed. The rolling stock composed of open cars, "toastrack" type, remained unchanged except for a hard top added during the 1950s.
(Text taken from park website and the website indicated below.)
Engine Type: Gasoline
Miniature Railroads Web Page: [Web Link]
Public Availability: Year Round
Ride Fee: Yes
If Yes: €2.70
Entrance Fee: Yes
If There is an Additional Fee: €2.70
Gauge of railway: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:Provide a picture of something with the train or related to the train. Possible photos include the train itself at any location along the route, a picture of the scenery with part of the train in view, the kids borrowing the engineer’s hat or of a family member with one of the miniature r.r. crossing signs. Show us you had a good time visiting the train. If the train isn't running when you visit get a photo of one of the miniature railway related items that can be found in locations like this
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