Unknown French Rail Line

[printman2000]

I was watching a documentary last night about the D-Day invasion of France. There were two video shots showing a small rail line between a wall and a road. The tracks seemed very small, maybe three foot wide.

Anyone know what these were use for?

 

[Ispolkom]

I was watching a documentary last night about the D-Day invasion of France. There were two video shots showing a small rail line between a wall and a road. The tracks seemed very small, maybe three foot wide.

Anyone know what these were use for?

Was it in the British/Canadian sector? I've found reference to a Decauville light railway (2 ft gauge) that ran between Caen to Luc-sur-Mer, so it would have been right around Sword Beach. Alas, my sum total of knowledge of Decauville railways is from wikipedia.

 

[printman2000]

Well, the footage showed American soldiers. But who knows exactly where it was filmed.

 

[Ispolkom]

I think the railroad must have been the Chemins de Fer du Calvados, though the lines in the American invasion sector were taken up in the 30s. Two things I notice in the Wikipedia article: it had carriages for bicycle transport, and the railroad finally ceased operation on June 6, 1944.

 

[printman2000]

I think the railroad must have been the Chemins de Fer du Calvados, though the lines in the American invasion sector were taken up in the 30s. Two things I notice in the Wikipedia article: it had carriages for bicycle transport, and the railroad finally ceased operation on June 6, 1944.

That looks like the rails I saw. That is one small gauge train. The track looks more like a train ride at a zoo.

 

[Ispolkom]

Years ago I rode the Ffestiniog Railway in Wales, which has a similar gauge. I was surprised at how big and wide the carriages were, though we did travel at a very sedate speed.