[ RURAL RAILWAYS IN FRANCE ][ CHEMINS DE FER RURAUX DE FRANCE ]
[ Longueville - Provins - Villiers St Georges, Seine et Marne]
During the creation of the main line from Paris to Mulhouse via Troyes, Chaumont and Belfort, between 1853-1858, a short single track branch line of 7 km was constructed from Longueville (89km from Paris) to Provins in the Seine et Marne. It was opened on 11th December 1858.  Much later, in 1902, the line was extended from Provins up on to the plateau of Brie to the rail junction of Esternay, a distance of 33 km, with several steep gradients of 10-15 °/oo.
Some silos for cereals were constructed along the line notably at Provins, Léchelle, Beauchery, Villiers St Georges and Esternay.
In 2008, the line still exists from Longueville to Villiers St Georges.
Passenger services run to Provins from Paris-Est as part of the Transilien Ile de France network.  Several of the silos still use rail to transport their products, notably at Beauchery and at Léchelle.
The silo next to the station at Provins was recently demolished.
The small town of Provins is now classified as a UNESCO heritage site, in particular for the Haute Ville much of which dates from the 12th century.
At Longueville, the former steam depot with rotonde and turntable has been occupied since 1970 by AJECTA (Association de Jeunes pour l'Entretien et la Conservation des Trains d'Autrefois). The rotonde, which was built in 1911, is classified as a protected monument since 1984.
AJECTA has collected on this site, over the last 37 years, twelve steam locomotives, several in running order, and some 70 carriages and wagons.  A rake of seven or eight historic carriages including a Pullman and a Wagon Restaurant is available for charter.

Gare de Longueville, Seine et Marne, 02/02/2008.
We are 89 km from Paris-Est and on the outer edge of the Transilien network.  The trains from Paris to Provins reverse here to travel up the short branch line.  The Corail Intercité trains between Paris and Troyes, Chaumont, Belfort and Mulhouse speed through without stopping.  They are hauled by CC 72100 locomotives in En Voyage livery.  The semi fast TER services between Paris and Culmont-Chalindrey are currently operated with new AGC BI BI four car hybride units (bi-tension, bi mode) of Champagne-Ardennes region.
The same hybride AGC BI BI units are currently starting to be deployed on the Paris - Provins trains to replace the RIB push-pull trains operated with forty year old BB 67400 diesel locomotives.  An official inaugural run of the new AGC BIBI took place on 2nd February 2008. 
At the end of the 1960's and the withdrawal of steam the services from Provins to Paris were operated with Picasso railcars and then red and cream EAD Caravelles.
But Longueville has another interesting feature... since 1970 the old steam depot has been occupied by AJECTA.
The Longueville steam depot roundhouse (rotonde) is a classified historical monument.  This picture was taken in 1977 and shows 230 G 353 on the turntable.  The locomotive, owned and operated by the SNCF, was at the peak of its popularity at that time as the only steam locomotive operating on main lines in France.
Sadly, SNCF has lost interest in preserving this locomotive in steam and it is in many pieces at present at Epernay.
The AJECTA association regularly operates steam trains up the branch line to Provins, and sometimes even further towards Villiers St Georges.
Longueville steam depot, April 1977.  Here we see 140 C 231 recently retired from active service as one of the last steam locomotives running in France.  AJECTA has operated this locomotive for following three decades on the main line.  Currently it is out of certificate awaiting repairs. 
Longueville, September 2005.  141 TB 407 proudly appears in public in steam for the first time since its renovation by AJECTA.  The locomotive originally operated in the Paris region ending its career on the Paris-Bastille to Verneuil l'Etang line. This line closed in 1970 and the inner suburban section became part of the RER line A.
Ironically, this newcomer to the preservation scene now regularly passes through Verneuil l'Etang on its way to Paris-Est in connection with special trains.  It hauled a Paris - Troyes excursion in October 2007, and featured in the shooting of a film in the spring of 2007 with séances at Paris-Austerlitz and on the freight line towards Villers St Georges.
See the AJECTA web site here for news of 2008 events.
140 C 231 steams towards Provins with a shuttle from the AJECTA depot at Longueville during an open day in September 1999.
The modern station building at Provins replaced a wooden construction.  There are two platform that can receive two four car RIB units.  The third platform can accomodate one RIB unit.
Provins, December 2007.  RIB unit 249 waits for business with its 40 year old diesel at the Paris end.  By the end of 2008 these trains will have been replaced by the AGC BIBI units
Provins, December 2007.  A first look at the new AGC BIBI with its Ile de France livery.  The unit was just two weeks in service at the date of this photo and still on trial.  This hybride train can change, while travelling along, between traction powered by electricity from the overhead catenary system and traction powered by the on-board diesel motors , a world première.
Here we are back in September 1999 looking across the level crossing towards the start of the climb away from Provins towards Villiers St Georges.  The huge silo dominates the scene.  I was surprised to find on a visit in January 2008 that this silo has been completely demolished.  For now there is a vast empty space but no doubt something will be built there in the future.
Train services were operated with red and cream EAD's back in those days.
The freight only line climbs away from Provins up a wooded valley formed by a small river called Voulzie. After five kilometres, the line emerges on to the plains of Brie.  PN 14 is close to the hamlet of Léchelle which has a towering silo and rail siding.  All the level crossings are automated.
Léchelle, February 2nd 2008.  Two views, on the left looking towards Provins and, on the right, away towards Villiers St Georges, the terminus.
Beauchery-St Martin, February 2008.  Signs of the former platform on the left when, long ago,  passenger trains served the tiny hamlet surrounded by vast fields.  One kilometre further on and we will reach the vast silo of Beauchery.
Beauchery silo has two rail loops with a capacity of up to 25 wagons.  It has its own locotractor.  In January 2008 at least two trains of 1 800 tons were processed here.
Until recently the infrequent trains on the line were handled by CFTA.  But now SNCF have taken over.
The procedure was as follows: the necessary empty wagons were brought in by a pair of SNCF FRET BB 66400's from a triage in the northern Paris suburbs.  The train was split into two for loading.
The SNCF locos returned solo to their depot in the Paris region 80km away and came back three or four days later.  The train of approximately 22 loaded wagons was assembled by various shunting moves which took up to two hours.  There is a stiff gradient on departure from Beauchery towards Provins and the rails were sanded prior to starting the train moving.
At Longueville there is a reversal of direction.  The ultimate destination of the trains is reported to be a transformation plant in the North of France.
Villiers St Georges.  Here we are at the end of the line, although originally it continued for a further fifteen kilometres to Esternay, once a strategic rail junction on the line from Gretz-Armainvilliers to Sézanne and Vitry le François.
Behind the station building looms the biggest silo on the line but, sadly, despite the many sidings, management organises delivery by road at present.
All rights reserved | tous droits réservés | J.G.Skinner | 2008
Page published in January 2008