The Tramway of Quend-Plage and Fort-Mahon (French: le tramway de Quend-Plage et Fort-Mahon or le tramway du Marquenterre) was a 12.8 km (8.0 mi) long 600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in) gauge railway line, which operated from 1898-1914 and 1921-1934.
| Tramway of Quend-Plage and Fort-Mahon | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Overview | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Native name | Le tramway du Marquenterre | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Technical | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Line length | 12.8 km (8.0 mi) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Track gauge | 600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minimum radius | 30m | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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History
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The Société Immobilière de Saint-Quentin-Plage built the 8 km (5.0 mi) long narrow-gauge tramway from the station Quend-Fort-Mahon to the beach at Quend-Plage (previously known as Saint-Quentin-Plage).[Rem. 1][1] The tramway was inaugurated in 1898. In 1903, a 4.8 km (3.0 mi) long branch line was built to the beach at Fort-Mahon-Plage. A single journey from Quend-Fort-Mahon to Quend-Plage lasted 30 min, and to Fort-Mahon-Plage it lasted 40 min.[2]
In 1914, the portable pieces of track with a rail weight of 9.5 to 15 kg/m (19 to 30 lb/yd) were lifted to be used during World War I and re-laid in 1919.[3] The tramway was re-commissioned on 13 Juli 1921. The tramway was used until May 1932 and formally closed on 26. February 1934.[2]
Rolling stock
editLocomotives
edit| Name[4][5] | Type | Manufacturer | Works No | Year | Weight | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeanette | 0-4-0T | Decauville | N°230 | 1898 | 5 t | Mark 3.1, obtained second-hand from Coulange & Tayart |
| Bienvenue | 0-4-2T | Decauville | N°279 | 1899 | 7,2 t | |
| Minus | 0-4-0T | Decauville | Mark 3.2 | |||
| 0-6-2T | Borsig/Decauville | N°7966 | 10 t | Delivered in April 1911 | ||
| Marie-Antoinette | 0-4-0T | Orenstein & Koppel |
Carriages
editInitially, two open Decauville summer cars, one Decauville saloon car and three V-skip trucks were used.[6]
Remarks
edit- ^ The Société Immobilière de Saint-Quentin-Plage was set-up in 1893 by Félix Martin under the name of Goutelon et Compagnie in Paris. It was re-incorporated on 27 August 1896 as Société Anonyme de Quend-Plage, a PLC with a capital of 700,000 Franc with its headquarters in 47 rue Taitbout in Paris. Félix Martin and Goutelon were the main share holders.
References
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- ^ La station balnéaire de Quend-Plage: Historique.
- ^ a b Stephen Ramsay: Les Tramways de Quend et de Fort-Mahon. 2016.
- ^ David Matthewson: The Tramways of the Marquenterre: The Route.
- ^ Eric Fresné: Les Forums de Passions Métrique et Etroite: Quend Fort Mahon.
- ^ David Matthewson: The Tramways of the Marquenterre: The Locos.
- ^ Loco-Revue, N°17, September 1938.