updated : 2020/12/17
16 photos
103 Strasbourg - Sarrebourg
The Strasbourg - Sarrebourg line crosses the Vosges via the Saverne Gap, the narrow twisting valley of the River Zorn that provides a relatively easy route through the mountains for the railway and the parallel Rhine - Marne Canal. Passenger services are a mixture of TGVs, loco hauled passengers, push-pull sets and EMUs and there are freights hauled by a variety of locomotive types.
v : T000
updated : 2020/12/17
6 photos
171-2 Paris - Belfort
The Paris - Belfort line was one of the few places in Europe where you can still see big diesels on fast passenger trains in 2013 but you had to be patient as there were very long gaps between workings. The scenery is very pleasant with numerous good photo positions, especially between Troyes and Chalindrey, where these pictures were taken.
v : T000
updated : 2020/12/17
27 photos
545 Narbonne - Cerbere
As it approaches the Spanish border, the Montpellier to Barcelona line runs along the Cote Vermielle (or Vermillion Coast), squeezed between the Pyrenees to the west and the Mediterranean Sea to the east. There are numerous excellent photo positions and a reasonable number of trains to photograph. Several different classes of electric locomotive were in use when I visited in 2008 and 2011.
v : T000
updated : 2020/12/17
4 photos
CC72100 Class
Class CC72100 were SNCF's last big passenger diesels, capable of 160km/h and powered by 2650kW/3550hp engines. They also had a lower gear ratio which could be selected on steeply graded lines or for freight work. By 2013 the CC72100s were limited to a few trains on the Paris - Belfort route and would shortly be replaced by new bi-mode units.
v : T000
updated : 2020/12/17
10 photos
BB7200 Class
The BB7200s are the 1500V DC only version of the SNCF's standard mixed traffic electric locomotive of the 1970s. A total of 240 were built in 1976-85 and they are in widespread use on DC lines across the country.
v : T000
updated : 2020/12/17
5 photos
BB9300 Class
Class BB9300 were modernised versions of BB9200, SNCF's standard 1500V DC mixed-traffic locomotive of the late 1950s. The BB9300s worked from Toulouse and were coming towards the end of their lives by 2008.
v : T000
updated : 2020/12/17
3 photos
BB15000 class
BB15000s are the 25kV AC only version of SNCF's standard mixed-traffic electric locomotive of the 1970s. The class was introduced in 1971, with 65 entering service by 1978. They were initially concentrated on the lines from Paris Est but are now more widespread across the AC system.
v : T000
updated : 2020/12/17
15 photos
BB26000 Class
The Class BB26000 locos are SNCF's first design with a 3 phase drive, known as Sybics (synchronous bicourant). A total of 234 Sybics were built between 1988 and 1998. They are capable of working on both 25kV AC and 1500V DC systems and can be found all over the SNCF system on passenger or freight duties.
v : T000
updated : 2020/12/17
46 photos
SNCF
France's national operator continues to provide the vast majority of passenger and freight services across the country. Locomotive hauled passenger trains are now relatively uncommon and Fret SNCF has managed to lose a significant proportion of its traffic over recent years.
v : T000
updated : 2020/12/17
5 photos
Diesels
The classic SNCF main line diesel designs of the 1960s and 1970s are rapidly disappearing as DMUs oust them from passenger work and more modern locos take over their freight duties. Classes CC72100 and BB67400 locos are represented here but there aren't many pictures.
v : T000
updated : 2020/12/17
37 photos
Electrics
SNCF's electric locomotives have found their work disappearing in recent years. TGVs and other EMUs now handle most passenger traffic while Fret SNCF has failed to hold onto freight traffic. There were still a wide variety of classes at work in the first two decades of the 21st Century but the majority of classes pictured here have either gone or are on their way out.
v : T000
updated : 2020/12/17
3 photos
TGVs
TGVs are high speed electric multiple units, designed to run on purpose built high speed lines but also capable of running on the conventional network. All have 25kV AC/1500V DC capability and some have been equipped for 15kV AC in Germany and Switzerland or 3000V DC in Belgium and Italy.
v : T000
updated : 2020/12/17
3 photos
EMUs
Most passenger services in France are operated by EMUs these days. This gallery only includes conventional EMUs, which now operate many longer distance services as well as local and suburban trains. TGVs have a gallery of their own.
v : T000
updated : 2020/12/17
30 photos
Loco Hauled Passenger
There are still locomotive hauled passenger trains in France but they are fast disappearing. Most of the services shown here are now worked by units or no longer run.
v : T000
updated : 2020/12/17
12 photos
Freight
Fret SNCF has an appalling record for losing traffic but despite its best efforts, it is possible to find freight trains to photograph if you look hard enough.
v : T000
