Tramway of Quend-Plage and Fort-Mahon

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+58 in) gauge railway line, which operated from 1898-1914 and 1921-1934.

Tramway of Quend-Plage and Fort-Mahon
Decauville summer cars as known from Expo 1889
Route
Overview
Native nameLe tramway du Marquenterre
Technical
Line length12.8 km (8.0 mi)
Track gauge600 mm (1 ft 11+58 in)
Minimum radius30m
Route map

+4.8 km (3.0 mi)
Fort-Mahon-Plage
1889–1934
8 km (5.0 mi)
Quend-Plage
1903–1934
Le Royon
Routhiauville
Monchaux
Quend
0
Quend-Fort-Mahon
1889–1934
Amiens–Quend–Boulogne
1847-

History

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Station at Fort-Mahon-Plage

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

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Locomotives

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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

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Initially, two open Decauville summer cars, one Decauville saloon car and three V-skip trucks were used.[6]

Remarks

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  1. ^ 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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50°19′05″N 1°35′45″E / 50.3181°N 1.5957°E / 50.3181; 1.5957