Compagnie des chemins de fer de l'Ouest
Overview
HeadquartersParis
LocaleNormandy, Paris and Brittany
Dates of operation18551909
Technical
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge

The Compagnie des chemins de fer de l'Ouest (CF de l'Ouest), often referred to simply as L'Ouest or Ouest, was an early French railway company which operated from the years 1855 through 1909.

History

Birth of the company

Bond of the Compagnie des Chemins de Fer de l'Ouest, issued 3. August 1892
St Germain en Laye train station. The station is now underground.

The Compagnie de l'Ouest was created in 1855 by the merger of various small railway companies active in the western outskirts of Paris, in Normandy and in Brittany. These were:[1]

Paris à Saint-Germain

The Ouest's oldest line (still open to this day) is the line from Paris to Le Pecq, built by Émile Péreire's Compagnie du chemin de fer de Paris à Saint-Germain and inaugurated on 24 August 1837 by Marie-Amélie, wife of King Louis-Philippe. The line was 19 km (12 mi) long and the trip took 30 minutes. Initially greeted with fear and lack of interest, the railway was a success that paved the way for other new railways, for instance to Rouen. In 1847, the line to Le Pecq was extended to Saint-Germain-en-Laye. The section between Saint-Germain-en-Laye and Nanterre – Université is now part of the RER line A. The section between Paris Saint-Lazare and Nanterre is part of the main lines to Rouen and Caen.

The old Ouest

While the line to Saint-Germain-en-Laye was being built, a line to Versailles, another popular Sunday destination, was projected. Two lines were built, one from Gare Saint-Lazare to the terminus Versailles-Rive-Droite, the other from Gare Montparnasse (Barrière du Maine) to the terminus Versailles-Rive-Gauche. James Mayer de Rothschild in conjunction with the Chemin de Fer de Versailles-rive-Droite, created in 1837, were given the concession to operate the lines. The line to Versailles-Rive-Droite, opened on 4 August 1839 and still in use today as Transilien line L, is 19 km (12 mi) long, branching off the line to Saint-Germain at Asnières-sur-Seine. The line to Versailles-Rive-Gauche is also still in use today. The part between Montparnasse and Viroflay is used by trains from Paris to Chartres and Brittany as well as Transilien line N. The part between Viroflay and Versailles is used by RER C local trains.

Paris à Rouen

Two lines to Rouen in Normandy were projected: one passing through La Garenne-Colombes and following the left Seine bank from Poissy, the other passing through Pontoise and following the high plateaux on the right Seine bank. Due to the lack of confidence in the second project, the first one was granted and the concession given to Charles Laffitte and Edouard Blount. Construction began in 1841 under the orders of engineer Joseph Locke and with the help of British workers. Inauguration of the line was on 9 May 1843. It was an immediate success, so much so that issues with the Chemin de Fer de Saint-Germain with platform allocation at Gare Saint-Lazare occurred.

Expansion

The Imperial Government imposed the construction of several lines:

The Government also imposed several secondary lines.

The network was rapidly expanded:[2]

To better use the Rive-Droite line, a 15 km (9 mi) long branch was built from Saint-Cloud to Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche at the cost of the French State. The line was declared of public utility in 1880 and the Chemins de fer de l'Ouest opened the line to l'Étang-la-Ville in 1884. Passenger services were extended to Saint-Germain Grande-Ceinture in 1889, services were then reported back to Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche in 1894 when passenger services on the Chemin de fer de Grande Ceinture were stopped.

A second line from Saint-Lazare to Mantes-la-Jolie was opened in 1892, following the right Seine bank. The new line started at Argenteuil, and passed Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, Triel and Meulan.[3]

Because of the company's bad financial situation due to the region it served (agricultural for the most part), the law of 13 July 1908 saw the integration of the Companie des Chemins de fer de l'Ouest into the Chemins de fer de l'État on 1 January 1909.

Accidents

A painting of the 1842 accident
Train goes too far at Gare Montparnasse, Paris 1895
Gare de Paris-Montparnasse, Paris 2007
  • On a Sunday in May 1842, one of the worst accidents in French railway history happened near Meudon: 164 victims; the 55 dead were burnt alive (see Versailles train crash). After this incident the company no longer locked doors on passenger coaches.
  • Montparnasse derailment: On 22 October 1895 an express train originating from Granville traversed Montparnasse station, ploughed into the buffers, wrecked the station building's front wall and dropped to the ground on the street below. The only fatality was the wife of a newspaper vendor, filling in for her husband (who had gone to get the evening newspapers), who was killed by falling masonry from the wall.
  • In 1881 there were 2064 railway related accidents: 185 derailings, 190 collisions, 692 accidents on the line. 512 passengers died in these accidents, 1/10 of those who died in accidents on stagecoaches.
  • Lists of rail accidents

Paris stations

L'Ouest built several stations within Paris; the two main terminals St Lazare and Montparnasse as well as Pont Cardinet at the beginning of the line to Auteuil.

In 1851 the Ouest's Paris terminus, the Gare Saint-Lazare, was enlarged to comprise six groups for each main destination served:

La Ligne d'Auteuil

Courcelles-Levallois station now part of Paris' RER C line but originally part of La Ligne d'Auteuil.
L'Ouest was the first company to pioneer suburban transport. St Lazare station was by 1931 dealing with 13.2 million passengers annually compared to merely 3 million in average in the other Parisian stations. In 1854 L'Ouest opened a typically Parisian line; 'La Ligne d'Auteuil'. This line started within Paris and ended in Paris, serving the Parisian inhabitants mainly for work purposes. The line was 7 kilometres long (4.3 mi) and served St Lazare, Bâtignoles, Courcelles-Levallois, Neuilly Porte-Maillot, Avenue du Bois de Boulogne, Avenue Henri-Martin, Boulainvilliers, Passy and Auteuil. The line was built in a cutting, removing the need for any level crossing, which was the first line of its kind. The line also boasted elegant station buildings such as the Auteuil terminus and Courcelles-Levallois station. All stations were built above the line with access to the platforms. The line was part of the Petite Ceinture circular line, which linked all Parisian termini for freight purposes.

Line openings

Date Section Length (km)
26 August 1837 Paris St LazareLe Pecq 19
2 August 1839 AsnièresVersailles Rive Droite 18
10 September 1840 Paris Barrière du MaineVersailles Rive Gauche 17
9 May 1843 Paris St LazareRouen Saint-Sever
22 March 1847 Rouen Saint-SeverLe Havre 94
14 August 1847 Le PecqSaint-Germain-en-Laye 3
1 August 1848 MalaunayDieppe 50
12 July 1849 ViroflayChartres 73
28 April 1851 AsnièresArgenteuil 4
20 July 1852 ViroflayPorchefontaine 1
7 September 1852 ChartresLa Loupe 36
16 February 1854 La LoupeNogent-le-Rotrou 25
2 May 1854 Les BatignolesAuteuil 7
1 June 1854 Nogent-le-RotrouLe Mans 63
1 July 1855 Mantes-la-JolieLisieux 133
14 August 1855 Le MansLaval 89
29 December 1855 LisieuxMondeville (near Caen) 49
25 February 1856 BeuzevilleFécamp 20
15 March 1856 Le MansAlençon 52
1 May 1857 LavalRennes 73
1 May 1857 Mondeville-Caen 2
1 February 1858 AlençonArgentan 43
1 July 1858 LisieuxPont-l'Évêque 18
17 July 1858 CaenCherbourg 133
20 November 1858 Through Fécamp 2
1 February 1859 ArgentanMézidon-Canon 43
1 November 1859 Falaise 7
1 May 1860 LisonSt-Lô 19
7 July 1862 Pont-l'ÉvêqueHonfleur 25
23 March 1863 Le MansSablé 48
7 July 1863 Pont-L'ÉvêqueTrouville-Deauville 10
7 December 1863 SabléAngers 47
15 June 1864 Saint-Cyr-l'ÉcoleDreux 59
27 June 1864 RennesSaint-Malo 81
24 July 1865 SerquignyOissel 57
2 July 1866 Argentanflers 43
1 October 1866 DreuxL'Aigle 60
5 November 1866 L'AigleConches 40
6 November 1866 LavalMayenne 20
23 April 1867 Saint-Pierre-du-VauvrayLouviers 7
5 August 1867 L'AigleSurdon 41
23 August 1867 Glos-MontfortPont-Audemer 17
16 September 1867 FlersVire 29
4 October 1867 PontoiseGisors 40
9 November 1868 FlersBerjou-Pont-d'Ouilly 19
28 December 1868 GisorsPont-de-l'Arche 54
15 July 1869 GisorsVernonnet 36
14 February 1870 RouenLe Petit-Quevilly 3
15 May 1870 VernonnetVernon 2
3 July 1870 VireGranville 57
25 January 1872 FougèresSaint-Brice-en-Coglès 18
10 May 1872 LouviersÉvreux 26
10 October 1872 Saint-Brice-en-CoglèsMoidrey 29
1 May 1873 VernonPacy-sur-Eure 19
6 May 1873 AlençonCondé-sur-Huisne 66
10 May 1873 CaenBerjou-Pont-d'Ouilly 46
2 June 1873 LisieuxOrbec 18
2 August 1873 ChartresDreux 42
22 December 1873 Neufchâtel-en-BrayDieppe 34
15 April 1874 FalaiseBerjou-Pont-d'Ouilly 28
18 May 1874 FlersDomfront 21
21 September 1874 DomfrontMayenne 38
15 August 1875 LouviersCaudebec-lès-Elbeuf 18
14 January 1876 Caudebec-lès-ElbeufElbeuf 1
1 July 1876 MottevilleClères 22
1 October 1878 HarfleurMontivilliers 5
30 December 1878 Saint-LôCoutances 29
30 December 1878 AvranchesDol-de-Bretagne 43
15 June 1879 MézidonDives-sur-Mer 28
29 December 1879 CoutancesLamballe 112
11 June 1880 MottevilleCany 38
19 September 1880 AlençonPré-en-Pail 27
22 November 1880 Sainte-GauburgeGacé 17
3 January 1881 MamersBellême 20
11 April 1881 RedonChâteaubriant 45
26 May 1881 La Ferté-MacéCouterne 15
26 May 1881 Pré-en-PailDomfront 41
20 June 1881 Bréauté-BeuzevilleBolbec 5
20 June 1881 BarentinDuclair 14
20 June 1881 Through Courbevoie 2
27 June 1881 QuestembertPloërmel 34
9 October 1881 GacéTicheville-Le Sap 13
16 October 1881 BellêmeMortagne 18
23 October 1881 Pré-en-PailLa Selle-en-Luitré 86
13 November 1881 PlouaretLannion 16
22 November 1881 ÉchauffourBernay 46
28 December 1881 ChâteaubriantVitré 98
28 December 1881 Mortagne-au-PercheL'Aigle 37
29 December 1881 Mortagne-au-PercheSainte-Gauburge 35
24 July 1882 AurayQuiberon 26
31 July 1882 DuclairCaudebec-en-Caux 15
31 July 1882 BolbecLillebonne 9
4 September 1882 AchèresVersailles-Matelots (GC) 23
18 September 1882 La Trinité-de-RévilleOrbec 13
18 September 1882 DivesBeuzeval (Houlgate) 2
18 September 1882 Trouville-DeauvilleVillers-sur-Mer 9
8 January 1883 Gare de Rouen Rue VerteElbeuf 23
30 June 1883 Through Rouen (Gare de Rouen Saint-SeverGare de Rouen Rue Verte) 2
22 October 1883 PontorsonMont-Saint-Michel 1
27 January 1884 SottevastCoutances 72
6 April 1884 PloërmelLa Brohinière 41
6 April 1884 MiniacLa Gouesnière 12
5 May 1884 Saint-CloudL'Etang-la-Ville 15
26 May 1884 SabléSillé-le-Guillaume 44
20 July 1884 Beuzeval (Houlgate)Villers-sur-Mer 9
18 May 1885 ChâteaubriantSaint-Nazaire 72
18 May 1885 Saint-Mars-la-JailleNantes 49
22 August 1885 EuDieppe 37
27 July 1886 Verneuil-sur-AvreDamville 28
22 August 1886 CaenAunay-Saint-Georges 32
18 April 1887 Saint-BrieucLégué 6
10 July 1887 DinanDinard 18
21 August 1887 DreuxMaintenon 25
18 December 1887 MortainVire 30
20 December 1887 Saint-Aubin-du-Vieil-ÉvreuxÉvreux 7
2 January 1888 ÉvreuxLe Neubourg 24
1 July 1888 Le NeubourgGlos-Montfort 24
1 July 1888 Saint-Aubin-du-Vieil-ÉvreuxDamville 20
2 December 1888 PouancéLaval 58
1 May 1889 JavelPuteaux 12
8 June 1889 Pont-AudemerQuetteville 16
16 June 1889 PontaubaultMortain-Le Neufbourg 39
11 July 1889 Saint-Georges-MotelPrey 24
11 November 1889 Verneuil-sur-Avre- La Loupe 39
1 June 1891 Aunay-Saint-GeorgesVire 40
3 April 1892 AuneauMaintenon 25
3 April 1892 Saint-LôGuilberville 25
1 June 1892 ArgenteuilMantes 52
12 November 1893 DomfrontRomagny 27
8 July 1894 CarentanLa Haye-du-Puits 22
8 July 1894 FougèresSaint-Hilaire-du-Harcouët 36
22 June 1895 Les IfsÉtretat 15
31 May 1896 Saint-Pierre-du-VauvrayLes Andelys 17
26 July 1896 La BrohinièreDinan 38
9 August 1896 ChâteaubriantMessac 41
14 August 1896 RollevilleMontivilliers 6
24 December 1896 RollevilleLes Ifs 22
20 February 1898 DieppeSaint-Vaast-Bosville 37
12 April 1900 Courcelles-LevalloisChamp de Mars 4
12 April 1900 Champ de MarsInvalides 4
30 August 1900 ÉpônePlaisir-Grignon 18
25 October 1900 CanyFécamp 24
1 July 1901 Issy-les-MoulineauxMeudon-Val-Fleury 4
19 August 1901 BlainLa Chapelle-sur-Erdre 29
31 May 1902 Meudon-Val-FleuryViroflay Rive Gauche 6
3 August 1902 CoutancesRegnéville-sur-Mer 8
5 April 1903 MessacPloërmel 51
13 July 1907 CharlevalVascœuil 10

Architecture

A sense of identity

As with many other railway companies, the Ouest adopted its own architectural style. Stations in large cities such as Le Havre, Lisieux, Deauville and Paris are unique. More modest halts were graced with 'type' building, which are called 'type Ouest', the best-preserved examples can be found in Dives-sur-Mer and Houlgate. According to the size of the town or village close to the proposed site for the station, a station of a certain size was built. There are three generic types of station buildings; the BV3, BV5 and BV7. BV stands for Bâtiment Voyageur (station building) and the number, the number of doors accessible. The larger the town, the larger the station building.

As well as stations, infrastructure was also in mind when saving money so the Ouest created a level crossing guard house template (see below).

Station photos

Locomotives

CF de l'État 2-2-2T No 12-010, formerly CF de l'Ouest No 0134. The locomotive was built in 1844.
Heilmann locomotive No. 8001

Heilmann locomotives

In 1893, Jean Jacques Heilmann built a steam-electric locomotive of Do Do wheel arrangement, which was trialled on the CF de l'Ouest. Named La Fusée Electrique (English: The Electric Rocket), it was successful enough that two larger locomotives were constructed in 1897. These were numbered 8001 and 8002. Although considered successful, the design was not proceeded with and all three locomotives were dismantled.

References

  1. Joanne, Adolphe (1859). Atlas historique et statistique des chemins de fer français (in French). Paris: L. Hachette. pp. 21–22.
  2. Direction Générale des Ponts et Chaussées et des Chemins de Fer (1869). Statistique centrale des chemins de fer. Chemins de fer français. Situation au 31 décembre 1869 (in French). Paris: Ministère des Travaux Publics. pp. 146–160.
  3. History of Triel

Sources

  • (in French) Histoire du réseau ferroviaire français, 1996, Editions de l'Ormet / Imprimerie Bayeusienne Graphique. ISBN 2-906575-22-4
  • (in French) Le tour du Calvados en 80 cartes, 1996, Direction Départementale de l'Equipement (Calvados).
  • (in French) Paris et l'Île de France – Tome 1: Les réseaux Est, Nord et Saint-Lazare, 2002, Le Train. ISSN 1267-5008
  • (in French) Electrification des lignes Paris-Caen-Cherbourg et Paris-Trouville-Deauville, 1996, Conseil Régional de Basse Normandie (Rémy Desquesnes).
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