Locomotives and Multiple-units - France: Illustrated Books - Overviews

French Railways A-Z

The railways of France present a uniquely interesting picture, consisting as they once did of two entirely separate but overlapping systems: the standard-gauge network of the great railway companies and the mostly metre-gauge network of the local rural railways.

This book attempts to provide a comprehensive picture of this fascinating diversity. Featuring a variety of locations throughout France, subjects covered include the seven pre-nationalisation railway companies; locomotives of all types, including both the successful and the spectacular failures; freight and passenger trains; the great railway engineers; famous lines, such as the Vivarais, as well as the not so famous; tourist railways; some of the great engineering marvels, such as the Viaduc du Garabit; accidents and disasters; railways in wartime; and even railways which were built but never saw a train.

Using the author's own photographs as well as historic postcard views, this book will appeal to anyone with an interest in railways.

Product details

Author:	Patrick Bennett
Details:	96 pages, 9.1 x 6.3 x 0.24 in (23 x 16 x 0.6 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	180 b&w and color photos
Language:	English
Publisher:	Amberley Publishing (GB, 2020)
ISBN:	9781445690971

French Traction

With its size, France is home to a huge number of locomotives. The country can basically be split in two, with the northern half running on AC traction, and the southern half on DC traction. A vast number of locomotives are dual-powered, and so can run all over the country.

Locomotives can be found on passenger workings, but are mostly dedicated to freight. Main operator SNCF runs most, if not all, the services within France. The number of locomotive-hauled passenger services is dwindling, but both diesel and electric locomotives can still be found.
The main diesel-hauled passenger workings are in the hands of Class 67 or Class 72 locomotives, while electric-hauled passenger workings are in the hands of Class 17, 22, 25, 26 or Class 27 locomotives. A large number of passenger workings are to be found in the Paris area, with the Class 17 an endangered species.

On the freight side, there are a large number of different traction types in use, from the Class 7200 in the south to vast numbers of Class 26, 27 and 37 electric locomotives, which can be found all over the country. There are quite a few different classes of diesel locomotives running for use on non-electrified lines, including Class 60, 63, 66, 69 and 75.

In French Traction, Andrew Cole explores all this variety and more in a collection of detailed images and captions, which capture many of the thousands of locomotives in France today - from the humble shunter to the modern freight locomotive.

Product details

Author:	Andrew Cole
Details:	96 pages, 9.25 x 6.5 in (23.5 x 16.5 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	180 b&w and color photos
Language:	English
Publisher:	Amberley Publishing (GB, 2017)
ISBN:	9781445666174

Alstom à Belfort - 130 ans d'aventure industrielle

Few companies can boast of having broken world records like Alstom. Few companies, like Alstom, have enjoyed such longevity.

1879-2009. Alstom has been in existence in Belfort for 130 years. Generations of workers, technicians, managers and engineers have participated in this industrial, technological and social adventure.

The time had come to rewrite the history of this unparalleled adventure and to take a look at the current and future presence of this group with global dimensions in Belfort, the Lion City. From Belfort to the world. People in Belfort. From the present to the past. From the past to the future.

Product details

Author:	Robert Bélot, Pierre Lamard
Details:	352 pages, 11.4 x 9 in (29 x 24 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	650 color photos
Language:	French
Publisher:	ETAI (F, 2009)
ISBN:	9782726888353

L'Usine dans la ville, Fives-Lille, 1812-2007

Fives-Lille, Fives Cail, Fives-Cail-Babcock, several names designating the same factory located in the Fives district of Lille. This company has left an indelible mark on the industrial history of the region, while influencing the lives of the inhabitants of the district.

From the Pont Alexandre-III in Paris to the construction of tunnel boring machines and locomotives for Brazil, photographer Emmanuel Goulliart tells us this remarkable epic through archival and contemporary images.

Product details

Author:	Emmanuel Goulliart, Fanny Magdelaine
Details:	70 pages, 9.1 x 9.1 x 0.47 in (23 x 23 x 1.2 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	extensively illustrated
Language:	French
Publisher:	Editions de l’étagère (F, 2007)
ISBN:	9782952468947

Loks der französischen Staatsbahn SNCF - seit 1938 (Typenkompass)

Not least thanks to the high-speed train TGV, which is now a daily visitor in the main stations of Frankfurt, Munich, Mannheim and Stuttgart, the vehicles of the French state railway "Société nationale des chemins de fer français" (SNCF) are enjoying growing interest among German railway enthusiasts.
This Typenkompass describes in detail all of the SNCF's locomotives and railcars since its foundation on January 1, 1938, up to the present day.

Pages of the book "Loks der französischen Staatsbahn SNCF - seit 1938"

Each type is presented with a photo, a historical description and technical data.

Product details

Author:	Thomas Estler
Details:	128 pages, 8.1 x 5.5 in (20.5 x 14 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	19 b&w and 105 color photos
Language:	German
Publisher:	Transpress (D, 2014)
Series:	Typenkompass
ISBN:	9783613714809