Colonel Péchot's children - lac de Rillé

The 60 cm gauge network at lac de Rillé (pronounced ree-ay) appears in my Péchot biography (page 206). Péchot himself never knew the network as it was established after the second world war, but it has some interesting preserved stock which would be very familiar to him.
An association of volunteers - AEFCM - was encouraged to build their railway by the side of the lake in the commune of Marcilly 37330 that is, in the department of Indre et Loire. Nearby are the famous châteaux of Chinon and Azay-le-Rideau, but more about those bygones below.

Steam train at lac de Rillé. Copyright Stevan Lira

Although the department does not have a history of 60cm railways comapred to the like of Loiret, Tarn and Calvados, the Powers That Be recognised the value of a preserved railway, recalling times when narrow gauge transport was vital to daily life.  The aims of the Asociation are interesting. They include the valuable ones of maintaining a railway, running steam engines and restoring old stock but also the aim of education. Their slogan is 'Welcome to train lovers and mechanical bodgers! We welcome and train youngsters from the age of 12'
In practice that means that volunteers work on the permanent way and maintain stock so that the public can take rides into the days of yore. They also preserve the know-how and techniques which belong to a by-gone era. This is practical history in action!
They have acquired locomotives and stock from various sources, industrial and military. Their oldest steam engine dates from 1913, the oldest wagon from 1890. The oldest wagons include ones of the Péchot design.

Péchot well-wagon at lac de Rillé. The Association plan to restore it to the original condition. Courtesy David Mumford

The first comment anyone makes when seeing a Péchot wagon is: 'Good-looking for its age! Eleventy plus years and still going strong!' (with apologies to Tolkien).
Manufacture of these wagons took place between 1889 and 1893. Péchot bogies had been first thought of in 1882 and  prototypes were at work in the mid 1880s.  My previous blog mentions them at Fontainebleau in 1886. Army documents refer to them in 1883-4.
To some, Péchot wagons were a short-lived and wonderful phenomenon. The French used them as transport in their frontier forts, pretty well unchanged in 1914. When the Germans noticed the advantages of French 60cm, they copied many aspects, but improved on them. Their standard bogie wagons were, if not exactly cheap and cheerful, much less sturdy. When trench warfare began in 1914, the French ordered bogie wagons in their THOUSANDS. Again, these were relatively light, compared with the Péchot design.
Where are all the THOUSANDS of French and German military bogie wagons? About as many remain as remain of the small number of Péchot originals. They are thus truly exceptional.

Péchot well-wagon photographed at Apedale just before their 2014 Tracks to the Trenches event. Courtesy James Hawkesworth

Above is another Péchot survivor photographed in England. This also looks good for its age.  Compared with the one at lac de Rillé, this one has been less modified.  In the Frenchexample, the well has been covered up. and the ends have been fitted with modern boards. The English example is, as designed, with flat ends and a proper well. The French called them dos d'âne/donkey back. The centre of gravity of a Péchot wagon was exceptionally low, the whole being very stable, even when loaded. When Jim took the picture, the wagon was still being used, loaded with lengths of track to make sidings for a commemorative gala. These lengths of track were supported over the well by the sleepers visible in the photo.
The wagon seen at Apedale was itself modified from the original. Pockets are visible along the side of the wagon; there are also ones along each end. These took stanchions which originally were intended as side barriers. They have gone. The wheels for operating the brakes have also gone.

Péchot wagon at Fermont, eastern France. The stanchions and one brake wheel have survived. Photo Author.

This Péchot wagon is nearer to the original. The stanchions are in place and one brake wheel survives. They were removable, which made the well-wagon a flexible load carrier. It could be completely open and loaded with dense and heavy items such as artillery shells. It could be given a flat base by covering over the well, and take a gun or vehicle, the brake wheel being removed to make loading easier.  Otherwise, ropes or more solid walls could be put around the stanchions and it could carry building materials. Stanchions could also be removed and put into rerailing pockets, acting as useful levers to lift a bogie which had sprung off the track.
This wagon stands outside the entrance to Fermont, one of the entrances to a Maginot line fortification. Placed there as a memorial, it is proof that this famous feature of the interwar years was being served by 60 cm railways.
Back to lac de Rillé ... It has much else of interest.

A Brigadelok 0-8-0 plus tender at lac de Rillé. Courtesy David Mumford

Once again, sun and steam have been photographed at lac de Rillé. This locomotive appears in 'Colonel Péchot: Tracks To The Trenches' In the book, the author located it at Marcilly, which is of course, the postal address. Attractive though the lake may be, I don't suppose that the French post office deliver many letters to the water! This fine locomotive, lovingly preserved, belonged to a class built for the German Army on the other side of No Man's Land in World War 1. They were a good design. While the French rested on their laurels after accepting the Péchot system, the Germans actively developed their 60cm gauge. This design was the fruit of years of experience, in Germany and German South West Africa. After 1918, the French eagerly accepted many of these locomotives as part of war reparations.
Come for a ride and enjoy what the area has to offer!
Interestingly, there is another link with the Péchot family. Prosper Péchot's late grandson used to spend his summers here in the Touraine. The author had the privilege of corresponding with him, and many of the letters had a local post mark. Raymond Péchot, observed that, as Scots, we had particular interest in le vieil Baugé a small town nearby.  During the Hundred Years' War, the Scots sided with the French against the English. We all know that at least one point. the French were holed up on the Loire.with the English in possession of northern France. The Scots weighed in to prevent an English incursion into the Touraine and helped to save their allies!