neris

[ SECONDARY RAILWAYS IN FRANCE ][ CHEMINS DE FER RURAUX DE FRANCE ]

Gare de Neris les Bains ( fermée, closed ) - Allier

The last railway line constructed by the Compagnie Paris - Orléans ( PO ) was opened in 1931. The principal town served by this line was Neris-les-Bains just five miles( 8 kilometres) south of Montluçon in the Allier. The line continued across remote rural country ( "Les Combrailles" ) climbing to a terminus at the village of Gouttières( 655m altitude).

The monumental station that the PO built for the spa town of Neris-les-Bain is one of the finest in France. There was a through passenger service from Paris-Austerlitz to Neris during the summer months ( the "season") which lasted until 1957. Sadly local passenger trains were withdrawn in 1939 after just eight years.

The freight service was withdrawn from the southern end of the line in 1950 and from Montluçon to Pionsat in 1969.

The track has long been lifted, the section from Montluçon to Neris-les-Bains, with three fine viaducts, is now a footpath.

The station at Neris-les-Bains now belongs to the town and was recently renovated. These photos were taken on 21st June 2005, except for the last one taken on a fine october day in 2005.

Here is the front of the station. It is so long that it is impossible to frame completely. A view from a height is unfortunately no longer possible due to thick vegetation.

Four detail views demonstrate the magnificent architecture of the building constructed in locally quarried granite

The inside of the station. Imagine three tracks, two platform faces and a centre track. There was a glass canopy that was destroyed by a hail storm in 1946.

Observe the "N" for Neris on the chimney.

The platform sheltor with a fine mosaic sign board.

A final view on a gorgeous october morning, end of the season at this charming country spa town.

Acknowledgment of source: "Trains du Centre France" by Henri Daudonnet and

Jean-Paul Mathiaud, published by Editions La Vie du Rail in 2004.

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