Train des Pignes Centenary
One hundred years of history
Link between the Mediterranean and the Alps, the Train des Pignes is a key element of the collective memory of the valleys through which it has been passing for over a century. Steeped in history, the line of Provence Railways performs a public service and is very popular among tourists. Over time, for the inhabitants of the Alpes de Haute Provence and Alpes Maritimes as well as tourists, the Train Pignes (Pine Cones Train) has become a heritage property of the region Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur.
History: the Digne engineer Alphonse Beau de Rochas imagine the first in 1861 to link Nice to Grenoble by the Var valley, Digne and Gap. The breakthrough of 3,457 m of the great tunnel of Colle Saint-Michel in 1902 mobilized more than 400 workers for nearly two years. At more than 1,000 m above sea level, it had the valleys of the Vaïre and Verdon communicate. A meter-gauge system is adopted, allowing tighter curves and lower construction costs. The first link Nice-Digne is inaugurated on July 3, 1911. A few figures : 500 000 passengers per year, 4 daily round trips Nice-Digne, 20 stops and 20 round-trip Nice-Carros - 140 employees, 10 railcars, three locomotives and 25 wagons on 150 km with 25 tunnels, 16 viaducts and 15 steel bridges.
On July 3, 2011, an official train went up the line from Nice to Digne and made stops in several stations where festivities were held. With yawing and rolling noise due to the floating rail and the singular narrow ways, you overlook the living waters of the Var, then the Verdon and Vaïre, winding and winding. With a little care, you can see huge rusted tanks stationed at each station, witness of the use of steam machines at the beginning of last century. At Thorame Haute, the air cools down. Because the train is suspended 1 024 m above the vacuum. Then the black: 3.4 km under the mountain, it is the tunnel of Peyresq. Follow us on a romantic trip.
Departure in Nice Station
Enjoy a landscape of white water, rocks, forests, wilderness, and experience the festivities at the train stations.
At Thorame haute, a great feast was awaiting officials with theater, songs and dances. And travelers moved from modern railcars to a steam Train des Pignes from the beginning of last century. Destination: nostalgia !
During the official trip, storytellers and troubadours entertained the travelers. Here is a demonstration of a bass instrument made of a variety of squash: the cougourdon (gourd).
Provençal Dance in Thorame Haute station celebrations.
For steam trains fans, the old steam locomotive carefully restored and maintained by passionate people
