Paray

[ RURAL RAILWAYS IN FRANCE ]

[ CHEMINS DE FER RURAUX DE FRANCE ]

[ Gare de Paray-le-Monial ( Saône et Loire) ]

This small Burgundy town ( 10,000 inhabitants ) is known for its 11th century Basilica.

The town is situated at a height of 245m( 800ft), 68 km east of Moulins, 55 km north of Roanne and 60 km west of Chalons-sur-Saône.

The ex-PLM railway station was opened in 1867 when the line from Chagny and Montchanin arrived.

It became an important strategic junction in the following years.

For, after the first line, from Chagny, had been opened, the PLM opened lines in four other directions; to Moulins in 1869, to Macon in 1870, to Roanne in 1882, and to Lozanne in 1900.

The line south from Paray-le-Monial to Lozanne and the Lyon area, known as the Azergues line, was used mainly for light freight from the south to Paris which could thus avoid the busy line via Dijon.

The physical characteristics of this line allowed gradients to be moderate with a summit tunnel 4 km long at an altitude of 524 metres, with an 18 arch viaduct to the north and a spiral section to the south.

The forges at Gueugnon to the west of Paray generated a traffic of steel coils which continues today.

The line away to the north east follows the Canal du Centre to Montceau-les-Mines and on to Chagny.

To the west, the line crosses the Loire at Gilly and continues to join the Paris - Clermont-Ferrand main line at Moulins.

The line to Roanne was closed to passengers in 1940, and to freight in 1972.

The line to Macon was closed to passengers in 1939.

This view of Paray-le-Monial station PLM is dated before 1904. The station building has hardly changed 100 years later, but the fine wrought iron platform sheltor has, sadly, gone. The spindly trees on the island platform have grown massively over the years (see below).

The front of the station facing east is illuminated by the sun at 08.30 in the morning in March 2005.

The facade has been carefully maintained, the building has two long wings, and the station remains busy with its freight and passenger services.

There are two island platforms with access across the tracks, so five platform faces in use.

The animation evident is due to the presence of a steam train on this Friday April 15th 2005.

A local service from Montchanin arrives at Paray operated with an EAD manifestly at the end of its life.

Most TER services are handled now by more modern units; X73500, X72500 and even AGC.

In the summer, the luxuriant vegetation gives a very rural feel to the centre platforms at Paray-le-Monial, as we look to the south-east.

To the west of the station an EAD departs for Moulins which it will reach in a little under one hour.

Empty steel coil wagons and some steel scrap is the view that can be seen above on a very hot July day. The station buildings can be seen on the upper left hand side.

The little locotractor struggles with a long train of empties filling the hot air with diesel fumes this July day on the western end of Paray-le-Monial station.

ARCHIVED

PAGE