Chemin de Fer de la Baie de Somme | |
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Somme Bay Railway | |
![]() A train on the estacade c.1910 | |
![]() Map of the network | |
Commercial operations | |
Built by | CF du Nord |
Original gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge |
Preserved operations | |
Owned by | Association du Chemin de Fer de la Baie de Somme |
Operated by | Association du Chemin de Fer de la Baie de Somme |
Preserved gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge |
Commercial history | |
Opened | 5 June 1858 |
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The Chemin de Fer de la Baie de Somme (Somme Bay Railway), is a preserved railway in northern France.[1] The railway is managed by a non-profit organization, which runs from March to December between the towns of the Baie de Somme area: Le Crotoy and Cayeux-sur-Mer via Noyelles-sur-Mer and Saint-Valery-sur-Somme, on metre gauge tracks (formerly part of Société générale des chemins de fer économiques). The association was founded in 1970 and over the years it has become a major player in tourism development in the Picardy coast and is also responsible for the preservation, safeguarding and enhancement of the fleet full of cars, wagons, steam locomotives and diesel locomotives. The line is one of the closest French heritage lines to the UK, Noyelles is 73 kilometres (45 mi) from Boulogne-sur-Mer and 105 kilometres (65 mi) from Calais. A part of the line has dual gauge track, and although forming part of a group of five lines, at least a part of it has always been open to traffic.