French Narrow Gauge Modelling SIG - Report of Third Meeting

[BobB]

The third meeting of this SIG was on 23 February 2022, with six people present.

A presentation on the iconic line from Tulle to Ussel in the Corrèze area included historical information, old photographs, and modern pictures of the surviving stations and structures.  It was interesting to discuss some of the photographs in detail as a group, our collective experience shedding light on many different aspects of the scenes shown.

We were shown photographs of a trip on one of the four surviving metre gauge lines in France – the Chemin de Fer de Provence, which provides commuter services into Nice as well as longer journeys into the Alpes Maritimes.

On modelling, we saw 1:55 scale Corrèze stock under construction, as well as HOe railcars and rolling stock based on various French prototypes from Calvados and further afield.  The latter complemented an earlier talk on the layout's locomotive fleet.  We also saw HO wagons adapted for narrow gauge.  There was also a discussion on possible ways to reproduce French pantile roofs for models of different scales, with a variety of products and techniques suggested.

Our list of reference sources for modellers of French lines has been supplemented by a reference to "side-by-side" maps and aerial photographs of France available on the internet.

General conversation ranged far and wide (beyond the borders of France some of the time), and we discussed plans for future meetings, with a similar mix of prototype and model topics to be covered.  We also noted exhibitions where French layouts are to be shown.

The next meeting of the group is scheduled for Wednesday 30 March 2022, in the evening. New attendees are always welcome.