Tag Archives: France

Rail Photo of the Month: July 2024

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MP59 Stock M3199

Location: Châtelet, Paris, France
Operator of Vehicle: RATP
Date of Photo: March 19, 2008

After a 61 year career, the Paris Metro retired the last of its MP59 rolling stock just a few weeks ago on June 12.  These railcars were introduced to Paris in 1963 when lines 1 and 4 were converted to rubber tired pneumatic operation.  In 1995, some were moved to Line 11, where they remained until the recent retirement of the entire class.  As new rubber tired stock was brought online, first with the MP89 and then the MP05, the oldest or most worn out cars were withdrawn and the remainder were refurbished and shifted around to accommodate the new arrivals.  With the introduction of the MP14 in conjunction with the extension of Line 11 from Mairie des Lilas to Rosny–Bois-Perrier on June 13, 2024, the final run of the MP59 took place the prior day.  The MP14 trains for Line 11 will operate manually, as opposed to the fully automated MP14 rolling stock on Lines 4 and 14.  If you missed out on the opportunity to ride the MP59 stock, the MP68 rolling stock in Mexico City and the NS74 rolling stock in Santiago, Chile are both based off the MP59 design.  

For more photos of Paris Metro’s MP59 Rolling Stock, please click here.  

Rail Photo of the Month: September 2021

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Class 7200 locomotive 7273

Location: Gare d’Austerlitz, Paris, France
Operator of Vehicle: SNCF
Date of Photo: March 22, 2008

When one thinks of the national railroads of Europe, people often think of high speed trains such as the TGV.  However, there are other types of trains in Europe.  For example, the French national railroad company, SNCF, operates electric locomotives such as this one on a variety of non-TGV passenger services, as well as freight services.  Although slower than their high speed counterparts, the Class 7200 locomotives are capable of reaching speeds of 120 MPH (200 KPH) on long distance express services.  This particular locomotive was photographed at the Gare d’Austerlitz, which is currently undergoing major construction work to accommodate TGV services.

For more photos of SNCF locomotives, please click here.

Rail Photo of the Month: March 2018

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MP89CC Stock 89 S 103

MP89CC Stock 89 S 103

Location: Bastille Station, Paris, France
Operator of Vehicle: Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens (RATP)
Date of Photo: March 20, 2008

I visited Paris for the first time ten years ago this month, so I thought it would be appropriate to share a photo from that trip for the March 2018 Photo of the Month.  The Paris Metro is an impressive subway system for a host of reasons.  For one thing, you are never more than a few hundred meters from the nearest metro station no matter where in the city you may find yourself.  However, what Parisian rolling stock might be known best for is that on several lines, the trains have rubber tires instead of traditional steel wheels.  The MP89CC stock shown here is one of those trains.  RATP converted three lines (1, 4, and 11) to use rubber tires in the 1950s and 1960s.  There were plans to convert the entire system to use rubber tires, but the costs were prohibitive and it would have taken decades to complete the project, so the RATP opted instead to convert one additional line, Line 6, because it has long elevated stretches and the rubber tired trains are quieter than their steel wheel counterparts.  In addition, new lines such as Line 14 are built for rubber tired trains.  You can see how the wheels of the train in this photo are not like what one usually sees on trains, and that the track for this line has running boards and guide rails as opposed to steel rails.  Have you ever been on a rubber tired train, either in Paris or elsewhere?

For more photos of the MP89CC Stock, please click here.