French Railroads - Rouen

Hi, My third, and final,  opportunity to photograph rail operations in France occurred in Rouen.

A tram line terminated underground near where we docked (above entering the tunnel and

above and 2 below leaving the tunnel).

The trams above and below are on a bridge just south of the tunnel entrance.

After I photographed the trams I walked up to the passenger station.  It was located in a deep cut with the central part under the head house and parking lots.  I was reluctant to try to get on the station platforms as I spoke no French and did not have ID (my passport was on the ship) so I shot from bridges at both ends of the station looking down.  The photos above and below are from one end of the station.

I then moved to the other end of the station where the remaining train photos were taken.

On my way back to the ship I stopped in the station and took these views of the concourse.

Thanks for looking.

French Railroads - Vernon

Hi, Our second stop after Paris was a small city called Vernon. In the morning we visited the home and gardens of Renoir Monet; very pretty and interesting. The afternoon was at leisure.

Since Ruthe was tired I walked into town in search of the railroad station.  Note that all of the trains I saw used the same type of equipment.

The first train was a northbound.  After a brief stop it moved on.

The second train (above and below) was a southbound express which barreled right through the station.

Soon after the express disappeared a southbound local arrived.

It stopped at the station and waited for some time.

A number of passengers detrained and just waited on the platform.

After awhile the local departed.  I have no idea why it sat so long as the express that preceded it was long gone.

Soon another local showed up. 

It cleared the platform but it too sat for awhile before it left (above and below).

I had time to walk south of the station a couple of blocks for one last photo.  At this point I returned to the boat.  In total I was at the station under an hour.  Thanks for looking.

French railroads - Paris

Hi, My wife, Ruthe, and I spent two weeks in France (3/29 - 4/11). Most of the time we were on a river boat. I was surprised to find a few opportunities to take some train photos during the river boat part of the trip.  My first opportunity (actually 3 separate occasions) was in Paris.

A commuter line ran parallel to the Seine and across a plaza from where our river boat was docked (first four photos).  The globe in the photos above and immediately below is actually a tethered helium balloon.  For 12 euros it will take you up to a height of 150 meters (287 feet).

This photo was taken from a bridge and on the far side of the Seine.  The ships in the foreground are river boats.

There was a commuter rail station about 1/4 mile north of our ship.  The images above and below are looking down on the platform.  For some reason the trains ran left handed.
 

Looking to the north here there was some complicated track work.

A tram terminal also is located here (three photos).

There was another commuter station about 1/2 mile south of where we were docked.  The views above and below are looking north.

Here the views are looking south.

Thanks for looking.