Yellow train
Encyclopedia
The Ligne de Cerdagne, often called the Yellow Train , is a metre gauge
Metre gauge
Metre gauge refers to narrow gauge railways and tramways with a track gauge of . In some African, American and Asian countries it is the main gauge. In Europe it has been used for local railways in France, Germany, and Belgium, most of which were closed down in mid 20th century. Only in Switzerland...

 railway that runs from Villefranche-de-Conflent
Villefranche-de-Conflent
Villefranche-de-Conflent is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in south of France.-The Capital of Conflent:The original town dates from 1098 and is fortified because of its strategic position in lands that changed hands between French and Spanish occupation.* 1374, Villefranche...

 through to Mont-Louis
Mont-Louis
Mont-Louis is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.In 2008, the citadel and the city walls of Mont-Louis were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Sites, as part of the "Fortifications of Vauban" group....

 in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

. It was started in 1903 and the section to Mont-Louis was completed in 1910, followed by an extension to Latour-de-Carol
Latour-de-Carol
Latour-de-Carol is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.-Transport:The village's main claim to fame is as the site of the international railway station, Gare de Latour-de-Carol-Enveitg...

 in 1927.

It is 63 kilometres (39.1 mi) long and climbs to 1593 metres (5,226.4 ft) at Bolquère-Eyne
Bolquère
Bolquère is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.Bolquère railway station is the highest SNCF station in France at an elevation of 1593 metres...

, the highest railway station in France. There are 19 tunnel
Tunnel
A tunnel is an underground passageway, completely enclosed except for openings for egress, commonly at each end.A tunnel may be for foot or vehicular road traffic, for rail traffic, or for a canal. Some tunnels are aqueducts to supply water for consumption or for hydroelectric stations or are sewers...

s and two bridges, one of which is, unusual for a railway bridge, a suspension bridge
Suspension bridge
A suspension bridge is a type of bridge in which the deck is hung below suspension cables on vertical suspenders. Outside Tibet and Bhutan, where the first examples of this type of bridge were built in the 15th century, this type of bridge dates from the early 19th century...

. The trains are powered by electricity
Electricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...

 at 850 volts DC, supplied by third rail
Third rail
A third rail is a method of providing electric power to a railway train, through a semi-continuous rigid conductor placed alongside or between the rails of a railway track. It is used typically in a mass transit or rapid transit system, which has alignments in its own corridors, fully or almost...

. The power comes from hydro-electric generators on the River Têt.

There are open and closed cars. The open cars are a favourite with tourists
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...

 enjoying dramatic views as the train climbs the twisting track
Rail tracks
The track on a railway or railroad, also known as the permanent way, is the structure consisting of the rails, fasteners, sleepers and ballast , plus the underlying subgrade...

. The maximum speed of the train is 55 kilometres per hour (34.2 mph).

It is named after its yellow and red colours, derived from the Catalan flag.

List of stations

  • Villefranche-de-Conflent
    Villefranche-de-Conflent
    Villefranche-de-Conflent is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in south of France.-The Capital of Conflent:The original town dates from 1098 and is fortified because of its strategic position in lands that changed hands between French and Spanish occupation.* 1374, Villefranche...

    -Vernet-les-Bains
    Vernet-les-Bains
    Vernet-les-Bains is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.It is a centre for visitors and holidaymakers. The village enjoys a sunny climate and is set in a sheltered valley in the foothills of the Canigou mountain - which rises to a height of 2,785 metres...

    -Fuilla
    Fuilla
    Fuilla is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.-References:*...

  • Serdinya
    Serdinya
    Serdinya is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.-Transportation:Route nationale 116 connecting Perpignan and Bourg-Madame passes through Serdinya.-References:*...

  • Joncet
  • Olette
    Olette
    Olette is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.-Demography:-References:*...

    -Canaveilles-les-Bains
    Canaveilles
    Canaveilles is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.-References:*...

  • Nyer
    Nyer
    Nyer is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.-References:*...

     (halte)
  • Thuès-les-Bains
    Thuès-Entre-Valls
    Thuès-Entre-Valls is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France. Le Petit Train Jaune de la Cerdagne passes high over the Gorges de la Carança.http://www.panoramio.com/photo/31902244-References:*...

  • Thuès-Carança
  • Fontpédrouse
    Fontpédrouse
    Fontpédrouse is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.-References:*...

    -Saint-Thomas-les-Bains
  • Sauto
    Sauto
    Sauto is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.-References:*...

  • Planès
    Planès
    Planès is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.-References:*...

  • Mont-Louis
    Mont-Louis
    Mont-Louis is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.In 2008, the citadel and the city walls of Mont-Louis were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Sites, as part of the "Fortifications of Vauban" group....

     la Cabanasse
    La Cabanasse
    La Cabanasse is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.-References:*...

  • Bolquère-Eyne
    Bolquère
    Bolquère is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.Bolquère railway station is the highest SNCF station in France at an elevation of 1593 metres...

  • Font-Romeu-Odeillo-Via
    Font-Romeu-Odeillo-Via
    Font-Romeu-Odeillo-Via , or Odeillo, is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales and Cerdagne near the Spanish border in the south of France.It also is one of the oldest ski resorts in France and the oldest in the Pyrenees.- Solar Power :...

  • Estavar
    Estavar
    Estavar is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.-References:*...

  • Saillagouse
    Saillagouse
    Saillagouse is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.The inhabitants are called Saillagousains.-References:* -External links:*...

  • Err
    Err, Pyrénées-Orientales
    Err is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.-References:*...

  • Sainte-Léocadie
    Sainte-Léocadie
    Sainte-Léocadie is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.-References:*...

  • Osséja
    Osséja
    Osséja is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.-References:*...

  • Bourg-Madame
    Bourg-Madame
    Bourg-Madame is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.It lies right on the border with Spain. It abuts directly onto the Spanish town of Puigcerdà, and is near the Spanish exclave of Llívia....

  • Ur-les-Escalde
    Ur, Pyrénées-Orientales
    Ur is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.-References:*...

  • Béna Fanès
  • Latour-de-Carol
    Latour-de-Carol
    Latour-de-Carol is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.-Transport:The village's main claim to fame is as the site of the international railway station, Gare de Latour-de-Carol-Enveitg...

    -Enveitg
    Enveitg
    Enveitg is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.It is close to Latour-de-Carol train station.-References:*...


Electrical discharges

In 1911 railway workers reported a fireball on the third rail between kilometres 28 and 40. A similar phenomenon occurred again when a train was hit by one of these fireballs during a thunderstorm. Lightning rods were installed where these events had occurred, and the phenomena have not been repeated.

External links

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