"Alsace"

The land of Alsace Wine & Monocabines

Introduction

SNCF (France) was virtually an untapped resource of railway photographic opportunity until the mid nineties and their hospitality was unparalleled in UK regarding visiting installations and cab rides. Whilst SNCF invested heavily in new motive power, small pockets of classic electric traction operated around the Paris suburban areas on empty coaching stock workings and in the Alscace, north eastern region of France on freight traffic.  Technical difficulties with the new BB26000 Sybic class locomotives, delayed their entry into traffic and provided a stay of execution for the remaining Monocabine locomotives. The image to the left is of me, a cast aluminium number plate from BB12055 and a bottle of Alsace Wine. You'll find out later how I pulled this !

Frustrated with the UK scene and in search of culture, I pointed the Primera south east in search of Alsace Wine and Monocabines on the 12th November 1994 accompanied by my long time buddy Jago the Rat, the only Hells Angel in Lincoln without a motorcycle. Traditionally SNCF are very accommodating and leaving nothing to bribery, except for a couple of crates of Old speckled Hen and Bishops Finger, I secured permits for the entire visit. For those who have not had the opportunity to sample the delights of Alsace Wine & Monocabines, a brief description of each is as follows:-

• Alsace Wine, Gewurztraminer is the most distinctive of the white grape varieties grown in the Alsace region. It has a very distinctive bouquet often likened to lychees and a spicy yet dry after taste. Bottles retail from £5 at most major supermarkets and have an alcoholic content of around 13 1/2%.

• Moncabines can be likened to a 25Kv overhead electric version of the Class 17, Clayton diesel electric locomotive with centre cab and built in three distinctive batches :-

• BB12001-BB12148, built 1954-1961, 3250hp, maximum tractive effort 79400 lbf, maximum speed 75mph, mixed traffic locomotive rarely used on passenger work, progressively being phased out and focused in the North East region of France where they are allocated to Lens and Mohon Depots.

• BB13001-BB13053, built 1954-1957, 2860hp, maximum tractive effort 50600 lbf, maximum speed75mph, mixed traffic locomotive and recently withdrawn from service.

CC14101-CC14122, built 1954-1958, 3490hp, maximum tractive effort 94950 lbf, maximum speed 37mph,  slow speed and heavy pulling power, progressively being phased out of service, focused on the Forbach - Thionville - Woippy Yard corridor and allocated to Thionville Depot.

The above status details are correct as at November 1994 and all classes have now been subsequently withdrawn.

Dunkerque - Metz - Hausbergen Freight Corridor

Predominately, the majority of BB12000 & CC14100 Class Monocabine locomotives work within the Dunkerque - Metz - Hausbergen freight corridor and the itinerary for this tour was focused upon this concept. Whilst the BB12000 class Monocabines worked over the entirety of this network albeit on a two hour maximum journey roster due to cold, draughty and noisy conditions within the cab CC14100 class Monocabines wer further restricted to the Forbach - Woippy - Thionville areas due to their 37mph maximum speed. 

 

Dunkerque	Lille		Aulnoye	Mohon	Thionville	Forbach
							Hausbergen
	Lens	Somain			Woippy		(Strasbourg)
							Mulhouse
	Paris		Paris	Reims	Nancy