MEETINGS
MYTHICAL STEAM TRAINS OF HAUTE LOIRE
The geographical particularity of France is the beauty of its natural spaces which are also interesting to explore off the beaten track to discover its attractions in particular
during trips in typical steam trains alongside the presentation of its railway heritage as
in the AUVERGNE RHONE ALPES region with the association VOIES FERREES DU
VELAY based in RAUCOULES in the Haute Loire department which organizes tours to
unique places, steeped in history, expressing all the diversity of our territories
Created in 1987 and comprising a workforce of 160 volunteer members for an office and board of directors comprising 13 people , the association VOIES FERREES DU VELAY commercially called VELAY EXPRESS operates lives a public
service delegation in close collaboration with the partner municipalities bordering a line railway line with a tourist and
promotional purpose covering 27 kilometers and linking the municipalities of RAUCOULES in Haute Loire up to SAINT
AGREVE located in Ardèche in addition to 2 stations located on the tour which are TENCE and LE CHAMBON SUR
LIGNON. Closely linked to the life and cultural, historical and also economic data of the villages crossed and the places visited, the train is an integral part of the history of this territory that we never tire of visiting as here are so many things
to discover and where culture, heritage, art of living and traditions are constantly combining, as Céline AGOUTIN and
Pierrick GERANTON, respectively president and responsible for operations of the association, told me."At the beginning
of the line operation, there were only towed convoys trains by diesel locomotives and then, after major restoration
work, put back into circulation 2 railcars that once ran on the corresponding line but our greatest pride,which delights
both the membersof our association, our partners and our customers is the commissioning of steam trains since 2010,taking into account also takes into account the years preceding this date necessary not only for the aquisition of locomotives but also for their renovation work and certifications allowing their circulation in safe conditions.Our
volunteer members completed by a year-round employee and a female employe seasonal only during the period of July/August are very passionate about their commitments within the association and are also versatile in their functions
which range from the restoration of locomotives to wagons and coaches passengers through to the maintenance and upkeep of the 27 kilometers of track completed with the driving of locomotives and railcars and the reception of the public in parallel to the support of travelers. Since its creation, VELAY EXPRESS has evolved a lot in good collaboration with its volunteer members and also the support of its local,departmental and regional private and institutional partners like the AUVERGNE RHONE ALPES region in order to control its development in good balance with its objective of
promoting and restoring the existing railway heritage, witness to our history."
Céline AGOUTIN and Pierrick GERANTON tells me with a while showing me pictures of the TENCE station.
On Board Of The Highest Steam Train In France
"Our substantial railway fleet running on a line which has the particularity of not having the standard SNCF track gauge mode but a gauge of one meter validated at its construction taking into account the data land plots parallel to the road
on small radius curves well adapted to the geological specificities and geographical locations while avoiding the
construction of expensive engineering structures allows us to respond effectively to the demands of our customers
with an operating schedule that runs from the beginning of May to the end of October by regular train on Sundays and
Wednesdays and Thursdays during the summer period in addition to whether on this period as well as the rest of the
year with special trains ranging from photo safaris to train trips weddings or birthdays and even themed trains such as
egg hunt trains or well Santa's trains in parallel with our participation in the European Heritage Days on Saturday 21 and Sunday September 22, 2024
with this year the visit of the rolling stock and workshops at RAUCOULES station
completed for visitors with the presentation of the ignition of a locomotive. Traveling in these trains delights our
Customers who, in addition to traveling in restored carriages offering all the comfort at the slow and progressive place
of trains of our ancestors, allows you to admire sumptuous landscapes such as the Velay valley, the Gorges from
Lignon like the country of Saint Agréve near the majestic Mont Mézenc and Gerbier De Joncs like discover during stops
the authentic cities of TENCE and CHAMBON SUR LIGNON which also gave it the designation of the "Highest Steam
Train in France" or even "La Galoche" As part of our development in parallel to facilitate the comfort of access to all our
customers,VELAY EXPRESS has acquired a few years ago, a Swiss car of optimal size was designed to accommodate
people in wheelchairs.Rolling with their companions in parallel to realize access platforms with completed turns
of specific technical data secured both outside and inside the wagon in order to facilitate access and the mobility of
people with reduced mobility”
Céline AGOUTIN tells me while specifying on a document with the plans for this socially
and humanly useful and necessary project. Guardian of our history and its values , VELAY EXPRESS also actively
participates in the preservation of our railway heritage and crisscrosses the Haute Loire and the Ardèche aboard these
magnificent, beautifully maintained trains that leave memories unforgettable is a pure marvel with a backdrop of
romanticism, sweet nostalgia and scents of adventure.
Report: Gabriel PAGE
Photos Credit: Gabriel PAGE / Getty Images / VELAY EXPRESS
A GENEROUS HUMAN AND TECHNICAL ADVENTURE
Take part in this generous human and technical adventure by making a donation to the association under
the 1901 law, recognized as being of public utility, VOIES FERREES DU VELAY, in order to operate a carriage
adapted for people with reduced mobility, completing all these jewels of our railway heritage.
VELAY EXPRESS
Place Oumey
43290 RAUCOULES FRANCE
Tel: (33) 04 71 59 68 06 email : contact@velay-express.fr www.velay-express.fr
TERROIR AND TRADITIONS
From the sumptuous mountains to the radiant authentic with facilities where history,culture and gastronomy are
constantly combine , discover AUVERGNE by clicking
on the URL link of our website.
