AMTP in Pithiviers, France

[ALAIN DELASSUS]

Sorry have trouble inserting hyperlink. I'm gonna try again let's hope it works out

amtp-cfpithiviers.com

[Bernie Perch]

Alain,

Thank you for the information.  I went to the two areas you recommended and learned more.  Unfortunately I could only appreciate the photos at the web site because I cannot speak or understand French.  I am looking forward to any more information.

Bernie

[Ira Schreiber]

Oui.

[ALAIN DELASSUS]

Hi!
I don't forget you but I'm a bit busy these days around. In January I'm gonna start to tell you the story of the A.M.T.P and of course the one of the Tramway de Pithiviers à Toury( T.P.T.) well known as the Decau  for Decauville the company that started it up in1892.

Happy Holydays !

[John Kokas]

Joyeux Noel !

[ALAIN DELASSUS]

Hi John,

Merci et Joyeux Réveillon du Jour de L'An!

[ALAIN DELASSUS]

Hi folks,
Well, at the bottom of all this I mean AMTP there were the TPT (Tramway de Pithiviers à Toury)and two for non profit organisations  called FACS (fédération des amis des chemins de fer secondaires) and AMTUIR ( association du musée des transports urbains et inter-urbains ). Google them for further information.
The TPT closed down in December 1964 after the last sugarbeets campaign and the main and branch lines  started to be dismantled.
But a few members of those both non for profit associations that often came in Pithiviers to watch and took photos of this endearing two-footer decided on saving a part of it. They got in touch with the  Loiret branch of the French National Department of Bridges and Roads ( Administration des ponts et chaussées) that ran the TPT. and the "Préfet" of the Loiret . After quite a lot of meetings  and mails and the funding of the AMTP in January 1966 the" Département du Loiret " gave to the AMTP 2miles of the main line from Pithiviers on, the TPT railroad facilities in that town, 2 steam locomotives , a rail car and a few freight cars.
I'll go on telling  you the AMTP story  soon.

[ALAIN DELASSUS]

Hi folks.
I don't forget you. I've been far away from home for a while enjoying both dramatic volcanoes and a now famous false alarm.   I'm leaving for northern France. I'll continue the AMTP story as soon I'm back you can bank on it. By the way don't hesitate to visit my fb Alain Delassus alias Uncle Scrooge there are quite a lot of pics about the AMTP. I guess you'll find it easily.
See you soon !

[ALAIN DELASSUS]

It's hight time I went on giving you further information about the AMTP. Actually contrary to the WW&F Ry museum the association does not own any land or building. All the facilities in Pithiviers belong to the SNCF the French nationnal RR company the AMTP has signed a lease with. The main line belongs to the Departement du Loiret and at the far end of the main the loop has been built on a land that  is owned and shared by several villages.The AMTP does not pay any rent for the main and the loop. In 1966 the end of the line was at the roadside where there was a cross over  built by the TPT in the middle of nowhere .
In 1971 the line was extended to a sizeable clump of trees and a land  away from the road that belonged to the AMTP  a cross over a siding and an american triangle to turn the locomotive were built. In 1996  the clump and the land were sold to the  community of villages that had purchased a large land close to the AMTP facilities.
Finally in 1995 and 1996  the loop was built on the land owned by the community of villages  and a station as well.  As for the TPT  right of way it went on to Toury along the road.
By the way if you want to see a nice pic of the WW&F  log on to the AMTP website https://www.amtp-cfpithiviers.com/ click on infos pratiques then on autres réseaux.

[Gary Kraske]

Alain:  Sorry I tried your link but Verizon/aol could not recognize it.  Suggestions?

[Ed Lecuyer]

I fixed Alain's link.

[Gary Kraske]

Alain: Thank you so much for the WWFRy posting on your site.  My wife took 4 years of French back in high school.  I'm looking forward to having her refresh her language by reading your site to me!   

[ALAIN DELASSUS]

I fixed Alain's link.

Thank you so much Ed.

[ALAIN DELASSUS]

Alain: Thank you so much for the WWFRy posting on your site.  My wife took 4 years of French back in high school.  I'm looking forward to having her refresh her language by reading your site to me!

Hi Gary
Thank you for logging on to the AMTP website kindly fixed up by Ed. If your wife needs help to translate anything let me know it'll be a treat for me to assist her. Where are you from Gary and why did you join the WW&F ? If you want to know more about me you can read the Who am I section in the General Discussion chapter  of this forum. Then you can log on to my fb page Alain Delassus /Uncle Scrooge where you can see quite a lot of photos of that French two-footer and   to its fb page Musée des transports de Pithiviers.
Have a nice week end.

[Kyle Irving]

Nice to see you on here Alain. Will we need to start a French language section of the forum soon?!

A few years ago, two fellow volunteers from the steam programme at Exporail and I got to tour around France to see various narrow gauge steam railways and explore their training systems for volunteers. At the airport we rented a lovely 6 speed manual diesel car and set off. It was a fascinating (and delicious!) trip.

We had arranged to stop in at Pithiviers and were greeted very warmly. We got a nice tour of their museum, shops, and, of course, took a trip down the line.

The railway will stay anchored in my mind for owning the loco which won the "loco we'd most like to take home" prize: a little ex-industrial shunter originally used inside a factory, which was bought by the association in pieces, including the original all-copper boiler and restored. It's a tiny little loco, designed for one man driving, though it's much smaller than even a quarry Hunslet. You can find a picture here about halfway down the page.  Look for the Schneider, built 1870.
http://www.internationalsteam.co.uk/trains/france03.htm

All the best!