The Tramway of Quend-Plage and Fort-Mahon ( or ) was a long gauge railway line, which operated from 1898-1914 and 1921-1934.
History
The built the long narrow-gauge tramway from the station Quend-Fort-Mahon to the beach at Quend-Plage (previously known as Saint-Quentin-Plage).The was set-up in 1893 by Félix Martin under the name of in Paris. It was re-incorporated on 27 August 1896 as , a PLC with a capital of 700,000 Franc with its headquarters in 47 rue Taitbout in Paris. Félix Martin and Goutelon were the main share holders. The tramway was inaugurated in 1898. In 1903, a long branch line was built to the beach at Fort-Mahon-Plage. A single journey from Quend-Fort-Mahon to Quend-Plage lasted 30 min, and to Fort-Mahon-Plage it lasted 40 min.
In 1914, the portable pieces of track with a rail weight of were lifted to be used during World War I and re-laid in 1919. The tramway was re-commissioned on 13 Juli 1921. The tramway was used until May 1932 and formally closed on 26. February 1934.
Rolling stock Locomotives Name Type Manufacturer Works No Year Weight Comments Jeanette 0-4-0T Decauville N°230 1898 5 t Mark 3.1, obtained second-hand from Coulange & Tayart Bienvenue 0-4-2T Decauville N°279 1899 7,2 t Minus 0-4-0T Decauville Mark 3.2 0-6-2T Borsig/Decauville N°7966 10 t Delivered in April 1911 Marie-Antoinette 0-4-0T Orenstein & Koppel
Carriages Initially, two open Decauville summer cars, one Decauville saloon car and three V-skip trucks were used.
Remarks
References
Stephen Ramsay: Les Tramways de Quend et de Fort-Mahon. 2016.
Eric Fresné: Les Forums de Passions Métrique et Etroite: Quend Fort Mahon. Loco-Revue, N°17, September 1938. David Matthewson: The Tramways of the Marquenterre: The Route. David Matthewson: The Tramways of the Marquenterre: The Locos. La station balnéaire de Quend-Plage: Historique.