Different types of tourist and heritage railways

Tourist and heritage railways vary a great deal, both in terms of the landscapes they cross and the types of equipment used.
These differences also stem from:

• track gauge: standard gauge (1.435 m), metre gauge (1.00 m) and sub-metric gauge (most common gauge: 0.60 m; the smallest is 0.38 m)
• the traction system used: steam, diesel or electricity
• rolling stock (locomotives, road switchers, railcars and carriages) of all origins and from different countries. In most cases, this equipment has been well preserved, restored or transformed. In fact, some are listed as historic monuments. New or recent equipment is sometimes used.

Locomotive power

Steam locomotives

Steam locomotives, some over a hundred years old, still use coal to generate steam at pressures easily exceeding 10 bar.
This high-pressure steam activates the pistons which drive the wheels via the connecting rods. The power of steam locomotives depends on the volume of the boiler, the size of the cylinders and the number of driving axles. Their weight can range from a few tonnes for narrow gauge to several dozen tonnes, or even well over 100T.

These locomotives require extensive pre-departure preparation, including several hours’ warm-up, pressure build-up, lubrication, water tank filling and coal supply.

In operation, the driver is in charge of driving, while the fireman is responsible for supplying coal to the firebox and water to the boiler.

Diesel locomotives

These more recent machines are powered by diesel engines similar to ship or truck engines.

They fall into 3 categories: diesel-electric locomotives (a generator supplies electricity to a propulsion system), which are better suited to hauling line-haul formations, road switchers for shunting and track work, and railcars, light and fast self-propelled passenger vehicles.

Electric locomotives and tramways

Currently, only 2 tourist and heritage train networks use DC electric traction: the Chemin de Fer de la Mure (38) and the Tramways de la Deûle (59).
Although these two networks feature some of the oldest systems, electric power does not play a significant role in tourist and heritage trains. Both networks are powered by overhead contact lines. The current is picked up by a pantograph or a pole, and returned via the rails.

Hauled equipment

Closed carriages

In most cases, these are historic carriages with a certain level of comfort, which have been carefully preserved in their original state.
They are mainly standard and metre-gauge trains. Narrow-gauge trains are rare or of recent construction.

Open carriages

These are open-air observation carriages with sideboards but no windows and sometimes no roof.
They were created by converting closed carriages, and sometimes even former freight wagons, into open-air vehicles from which to better view the landscape or the train itself.

“Baladeuse” carriages

These are small open-sided carriages designed for narrow-gauge tourist trains. A chain closes the side access to each bench.
These trains operate at very slow speeds.