Kraus 0-4-0T built for German forces in 1917 preserved on the Froissy Dompierre Light Railway (CFCD) in the Somme Dept of France
The Froissy Dompierre Light Railway (CFCD) is a narrow-gauge light railway near the village of Cappy, in the Somme department The French Decauville 60cm narrow-gauge railway system using prefabricated track became extremely important within many of the fortresses to the east of France (Verdun, Epinal, Belfort) and was soon the de facto system used by the French and British military for maintaining a lifeline to the front. The section preserved by the Appeva Association was originally built in preparation for the Battle of the Somme in 1916. It was started near Villers Bretonneux and was slowly extended along the Somme and its lakes as the front moved forward, eventually reaching as far as Bouchavesnes. It was able to transport about 1500 tons of munitions etc a day. Following the war the train system was used in the reconstruction of the local society by transporting sugar beets and sugar for the Santerre Sucrerie at Dompierre up on the plateau. The Halt at Cappy was originally utilised for loading barges on the Somme. As transport styles changed so the narrow gauge railways fell into disuse. In 1971 a group of enthusiasts clubbed together in order to save a part of their heritage, buying up the rights to the line (still WW1 material) and part of the rolling stock. They have since received grants to enhance and display their remarkable collection of narrow gauge engines and stock. The first passenger train ran on the 13th June 1971 followed by the first steam locomotive on the 14th July. Kraus 0-4-0T built for German forces in 1917
Size: 4300px × 2664px
Location: Froissy-Dompierre Railway, Cappy, Somme, France
Photo credit: © Niall Ferguson / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 0-4-0t, 60cm, decauville, dompierre, france, french, froissy, gauge, german, great, kraus, light, locomotive, military, narrow-gauge, railway, somme, steam, war, ww1
