Petit Train de Saint-Trojan, Heritage railway in Saint-Trojan-les-Bains, Île d'Oléron, France
Le P'tit Train de Saint-Trojan is a tourist railway on Île d'Oléron running on 60 cm Decauville-type narrow track between Saint-Trojan-les-Bains and Maumusson, a 6 km line. Diesel locotractors pull open-sided carriages with beige or white canopies, and the front car of one train carries the words "PETIT TRAIN" above its red-framed cab window. A wooden signboard at the track shows the route map.
Founded by Dr. Pol Gala and his cousin Albert Murat, the line opened on 1 July 1963 between Saint-Trojan and Gatseau, recreating the dismantled Royan forest railway. It was extended in 1965 to the dunes of the wild coast, reaching 7 km. Coastal erosion forced the terminus to be rebuilt 22 times between 1965 and 2011, and the line now measures 6 km.
The line's cars are replicas of those of the former Royan forest railway, which the founders set out to recreate. From 2010 to 2011 the Billard locomotive no. 7 ran on used frying oil collected by the local association Roule ma frite 17. A summer bar car is coupled at the Maumusson terminus.
The line runs from Saint-Trojan-les-Bains to the Maumusson terminus, with raised platforms at Saint-Trojan, Monplaisir, Les Genêts, Gatseau, Maumusson and the Prévent halt. Each train carries multi-service carriages for wheelchair users, and the railway holds the Tourisme et Handicap 2010 label.
The line's western terminus has been rebuilt 22 times between 1965 and 2011 because of dune erosion; the 1999 storm pushed it back about 50 m, and erosion since 2000 has moved the dune front 150 m, shortening the line to 6 km.
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