CFD lines and track

The networks bringing together the CFD lines

From 1935 onwards, the various networks were listed by number to facilitate their identification. On this occasion, series were formed for the registration of new engines, which included this network number in the figure of one hundred (e.g.: Corsican railcars series 100, Vivarais 200, the locotractors being included in series of tens 50: 650 for the Dordogne, 850 for Seine-et-Marne).

All these lines were networked together. These sets are given below:

• Corsica network (I.G.). Centre : Bastia.
• Vivarais-Lozère (I.G.) network. Centres: Le Cheylard and Florac.
• Network of Charentes and Deux-Sèvres (I.G.). Centre: Saint-Jean- d'Angély.
• Saône-et-Loire network(I L.). Centre : Toulon-sur-Arroux.
• Networks in Indre-et-Loire(i.L.)
• Network of the Dordogne (I L.). Center : Périgueux-Les Jalots.
• VII. Vendée network (I.L.). Centre : Les Sables-d'OIonne.
• VIII. Seine-et-Marne and Yonne networks (I.L.).
• AvalonnaisI.G. Network) (V.N.). Center : Autun.

The CFD track

With the exception of the first line of the Company, which was economically built in 15 kg per metre rails, the tracks were reinforced with 18 kg per metre Vignole rails in 8 metre bars. However, some exceptions should be noted: the Corsican Network was equipped with Double-Head rails of 21 kg per metre and for the last part of the Eastern line, with Vignole rails of 26 kg per metre. On the Vivarais network, there were 20 and 26 kg Vignole rails in 8 and 12 metre bars and on the Lozère line 25 kg in 12 metre bars. The sleepers were generally made of creosoted oak and the ballast of broken stones. However, on a few sections, river sand or gravel had been used, due to local supply conditions

Maximum ramps were between 25 and 25%₀, except in the mountainous regions where they reached 30%₀ and even 32.5%₀ on the Vivarais. The minimum radius of the curves was 100 metres, with the exception of the Indre-et-Loire network where it did not go below 150 and 200 metres.

Of course, the above is only valid for the lines granted directly to the Compagnie C.F.D. The networks, whose operation they took over, had different (generally less favourable) characteristics. For example, the networks of the Ardèche, Dordogne and Vendée tramways had curves with a radius of 50 metres and that of the Yonne had a radius of 80 metres.

The lines generally included only a small number of engineering structures, except in Corsica and on the Vivarais-Lozère network where there were numerous viaducts and tunnels.

source : MTVS 1981-3