European Railroad Discussion > French Freight questions

I'm helping out a friend here and some questions have come up regarding
French railroading. Since he is not into trains, and since I know next to
nothing about French railroads, these are elementary questions.

First: What were Cabooses/Guards Vans/Brake Vans called in France? Are
they still being used? (Doubt that but one never knows.) If not, when were they
phased out?? Which member of the crew rode them?

Two: When do French freight trains run? I'm thinking they run mostly at night
to stay out of the way of the passenger trains.

Third: How are they powered? Straight electric or diesel electric?

Fourth: Are there hobos riding on freight trains? If so, where to they ride??

Fifth: On the box cars, (goods wagons?), are the doors the plug door type or
sliding doors?

Sixth: How are freight train crews called? In the United States, crews are called
about ninety minutes before they are to leave. (When they actually leave is another
matter altogether.) How is this done in France? And how many are now on French
trains?

You can reply to this post, or PM me, whichever you prefer.

TIA for any help on this.

Nick Tharalson,
Marion, IA

ntharalson Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm helping out a friend here and some questions
> have come up regarding
> French railroading. Since he is not into trains,
> and since I know next to
> nothing about French railroads, these are
> elementary questions.
>
> First: What were Cabooses/Guards Vans/Brake Vans
> called in France? Are
> they still being used? (Doubt that but one never
> knows.) If not, when were they
> phased out?? Which member of the crew rode them?

Fourgon-frein or just Fourgon.

> Two: When do French freight trains run? I'm
> thinking they run mostly at night
> to stay out of the way of the passenger trains.

That may have been the case at one time, but except in Parisian commuter areas they can be seen at any time. But many areas have limited freight service compared to years past.

> Third: How are they powered? Straight electric or
> diesel electric?

Depends on the area. Both are used.

> Fourth: Are there hobos riding on freight trains?
> If so, where to they ride??

There are less than in the US, but for awhile there was a serious problem with Immigrants trying to sneak into the UK on freights, as the French Red Cross had a refugee center right near the French entrance to the Channel Tunnel, unfortunately freights headed to the tunnel frequently had to stop right alongside the center. The favored vehicle to ride in was Swapbodies on Intermodal trains. Swapbodies have canvas sides to reduce weight and make access easier from the sides, and with sharp knives the Immigrants would cut their way in and throw out cargo to make space for themselves. This nearly killed freight through the Channel Tunnel until the British convinced the French to move the refugee center and increase Police patrols in the area.
>
> Fifth: On the box cars, (goods wagons?), are the
> doors the plug door type or
> sliding doors?

Mostly sliding including all new versions. The newer versions are like US "All Door Boxcars" where half the length is exposed at one time.

> Sixth: How are freight train crews called? In
> the United States, crews are called
> about ninety minutes before they are to leave.
> (When they actually leave is another
> matter altogether.) How is this done in France?

Crews are normally scheduled for a particular train days to months in advance. There are no crews called. Typically the crew consists of only the Driver.

> And how many are now on French
> trains?

One person on most freights.


John Beaulieu
Grantsburg, WI



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 04/13/14 17:12 by SOO6617.

Thanks for the replies, they are helpful.

Two further questions. I assume because you didn't answer it,
there are no longer "cabooses" on French freights. Is that correct?

Where are the diesels used in freight service? I'm concerned with the
area off the French Rivera and also off the Bay of Biscay in the south
of France.

Again, your replies are much appreciated and very helpful.

Nick Tharalson,
Marion, IA

As far as I recall "cabooses" (ie Fourgons-freins) have not existed for over 50 years. In the UK the traditional brakevan effectively became redundant with the disappearance of un-braked freight wagons; on the continent I believe these vanished many decades earlier, well before the war. A form of freight vehicle (unknown in Britain) was the wagon with a guard's compartment at the end. These seemed primitive in the 1960s. I cannot believe many were used back then, but others may know better. I also know that the rear red light, which in the UK was provide by a paraffin lantern, had been abolished on the continent by the early 1960s in favour of a flashing red battery lamp.

Your questions are interesting, but it would be nice to know why you ask them!

ntharalson Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks for the replies, they are helpful.
>
> Two further questions. I assume because you
> didn't answer it,
> there are no longer "cabooses" on French freights.
> Is that correct?

Correct

>
> Where are the diesels used in freight service?
> I'm concerned with the
> area off the French Rivera and also off the Bay of
> Biscay in the south
> of France.

Take a look at this map. It shows electrified and non-electrified lines. Isolated non-electrified branches usually have DMU passenger service, not many have freight. South Central France has the least amount of freight and passenger service, except on electrified lines.

http://www.bueker.net/trainspotting/map.php?file=maps/france/france_f

The area in the arc from Marseilles to Port Bou on the Spanish border sees decent amount of freight. The area from Bordeaux south sees somewhat less freight. The lines to ports such as Brest, St. Nazaire, and La Rochelle see some freight.

Typical Road freight diesel from the '60s to the early years of the new Millenium
BB67000 series http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/fr/diesel/67400/Fret/67401-67499/SNCF_467469.jpg

Replacement Road freight diesel
BB75000 series http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/fr/diesel/75000/Fret/BB475011_rr1.jpg

Local freight locomotive
BB66000 series http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/fr/diesel/66400/Fret/SNCF4665.jpg

Replacement Local freight locomotive
BB60000 series locomotive http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/fr/diesel/60000/60040-60099/SNCF460080Hen2409.jpg

Yard Switchers
Y8000 series http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/fr/diesel/shunter/Y8000/Fret/8200-150.jpg

>
> Again, your replies are much appreciated and very
> helpful.
>
> Nick Tharalson,
> Marion, IA



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/14/14 19:18 by SOO6617.

The responses are appreciated. However, SOO6617, the
link to the map came up empty.

Nick Tharalson,
Marion, IA

Try this link, then select France from the list in the right-hand column. Then select the French version as the links were accidently reversed so French version leads to the English version.

http://www.bueker.net/trainspotting/maps.php



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/15/14 11:26 by SOO6617.

Here is another site that may be of interest http://www.rff.fr/en/the-network/maps-275/. It has a whole lot of good French railway maps. One that is particularly good for your question is a traffic map that shows the mixture of freight (FRET) and the various passenger trains operating in the South. http://www.rff.fr/IMG/jpg/reseau-LR-trafic_3(1).jpg

Jim