In a post in May 2012, I told about the successful first day of the Train des Pignes steam train service on 13 May that year. The following year, in 2013, the service started on 5 May with a prolonged service to Le Fugeret, in connection with the Le Fugeret celebration of the "5éme Journées de la nature des traditions".
The tragic accident during last winter, when a CP railcar was hit by a large stone near Saint Benoit south of Annot, causing it to derail, had several consequences. All train service between Entrevaux and Annot was blocked. Also, the road traffic was blocked, as it was decided by the authorities that the road for security reasons had to be moved. All this had severe practical and economic repercussions for the people in the villages of the valley, as well as for visitors to ski stations.
The Train des Pignes steam train service is for the moment restricted to the tracks between Puget-Théniers and Entrevaux only. This situation is expected to last until early June 2014, after which the steam train is expected to run as before between Puget-Théniers and Annot, see earlier post.
The situation meant that there were fewer passengers this Sunday than previous years.
The first train this year was in honour of Gaby, a long time member of the Association deceased last year. He had prior to hirs retirement during a major part of his professional life worked as steam engineer. As a member of the GECP (the Association that operates the steam train) he not only worked as engineer; he also passed along practical knowledge to younger members who worked as, or wanted to work, as engineers on the Train des Pignes steam train.
Quite a few members, not only those dressed in black GECP T-shirts, were present.
Here is the proof! Train des Pignes steam engines also run on pine cones!
The members of the Association will never be workless, as this row of restoration objects show.
An unusual collection of rail vehicles at Entravaux station, which this day is the temporary western terminal. For both the Nice - Digne railcar and the steam train, here blendning with rail service vehicles.
