'Le Mistral' - 05-11 May 2007

'Le Mistral' - 05-11 May 2007
Steam from Paris to Marseille and Return

'Le Mistral' was an excellent one week railtour organised by Mike Hedderly, in the UK, in similar fashion to the 'Alsace-Lorraine Express' I travelled on in 2003. This trip ran from Paris to Marseille and return using 141R 1199 and 241P 17. Originally 231G 558 had been scheduled for the sections hauled by the 141R but in the event the 2-8-2 was an excellent stand in.

In addition to the main tour a number of add-ons were available. At Le Creusot a trip on the scenic 60cm gauge Chemin de Fer du Creusot was organised and the following day we travelled on the metre gauge Chemin de Fer du Vivarais from Tournon to Lemastre. After the Vivarais the tour headed to Avignon. Here passengers could spend the night and following morning or take the next add-on which was to Marseille, overnight, then back to Avignon with the 241P. The final add-on was with the 141R in the form of an Alpine circuit from Lyon to Grenoble, Aix-les-Bains, Culoz and back to Lyon.

'Le Mistral' Steam Locomotives
141R 1199	241P 17
141R 1199 at Culoz. The official site for 1199 is: http://r2nantes.free.fr	241P 17 at Marseille St. Charles. The official site for 17 is: http://www.241p17.com
Chemin de Fer du Creusot Henschel 0-8-0t No.15526	Chemin de Fer du Vivarais 0-6-6-0 No.414
Henschel No.15526 at Le Creusot. The Chemin de Fer du Creusot is part of the Parc Touristique des Combes. The website is: http://www.parcdescombes.com	No.414 at Tournon. The Chemin de Fer du Vivarais website is: http://www.ardeche-train.com

'Le Mistral' started from Paris Gare de Lyon on Saturday 5th May behind the 141R and finished at Gare de Lyon's relief station, Paris Bercy, on Friday 11th May, again with the 141R. The 241P featured on three days during which it visited Marseille, the first of its class there for a very long time.

Click on the map to the left to view an enlarged version which shows the route of 'Le Mistral'.

Below are a series of links to photos and text relating to each day:

05 May - Paris Lyon to Nevers with 141R 1199
	06 May - Nevers to Le Creusot with 141R 1199 Le Creusot to Lyon Perrache with 241P 17 and 141R 1199
07 May - Lyon Perrache to Tournon with 241P 17 A trip on the Chemin de Fer du Vivarais Tournon to Avignon and Marseille St. Charles with 241P 17
	08 May - Marseille St. Charles to Lyon Perrache with 241P 17
09 May -'Circuit des Alpes’ Lyon Perrache to Lyon Perrache via Grenoble and Aix-les-Bains with 141R 1199
	10 May - Lyon Perrache to Dijon Ville with 141R 1199
11 May - Les Laumes Alésia to Paris Bercy with 141R 1199

241P 17 & 141R 1199

Le Mistral

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