CASCASTEL CHATEAU

A short History of the
narrow gauge railway in the Aude
1902 - 1932

By the end of the 19^th century the wine trade had expanded and the tracks were difficult for the movement of heavily loaded vehicles. The costs of transport were increasing. In 1889 the Conseil Général of the Department of the Aude recognised “the importance of placing the means of transport as a top priority for the growth of commerce”. On the 26^th August 1893 the Conseil Général of the Aude requested the Highways Department to plan out a network. On the 24^th March 1898 M. Bardol, owner of a public works business, was given the concession for a railway network in the Aude.
 
On the 7^th November 1898 under the Presidency of Baron Hély d’Oissel, the “Compagnie des Tramways à Vapeur de l’Aude” - The Steam Tramways of the Aude Company, a narrow gauge railway, was founded.

Thirty five locomotives, 27 carriages and 190 wagons were the estimated requirement.
The total network would be 332kms, integrating the line from Carcassonne to Lastours, the centre of Minier and Drapier. This line would function from 1877 until 1963. the others from 1902 or 1905 until 1932.

In 1900, the public made little use of the transport, but the freight carried was considerable. Very often the train tracks were laid at the side of the existing route and using the same bridges. Thanks to the construction of these tracks many of the narrow roads were widened to a regulated size. Today we benefit from these improved routes following the demolition of the rail tracks after 1932.

Line n°3 Lezignan to La Nouvelle, passing by the Auberge (Inn) at Ripaud, was put into service in 1902 then extended towards the Port and the beaches of La Nouvelle in 1904. The Auberge at Ripaud is in the process of renovation and the building which had housed the lime kiln has been very well restored. The shed or warehouses for merchandise (these can be seen on the right of the photograph) are ruins and the passenger station, which lay behind these buildings, has been demolished.
 
 
< The dress and the stance of the woman is perhaps
    typical of 1900 when the picture was taken.
   & “photo 2” shows the “Auberge” in 2008.
  [ photo 1 | photo 2 ]
 
 
v “Magazine des Chemins de Fer Régionaux”
   N° 171 1982.

Line n°9 which ran between Ripaud and Tuchan, was 24kms long and was opened in 1902.
 
The train, which can be seen entering the tunnel at Ripaud, went to Tuchan via Durban, Villeseque and Villeneuve and for the most part carried well filled barrels of wine. After the station at Ripaud the train continued on to La Nouvelle where there was a link with the main line railway.

“ This photograph is of particular interest as it clearly shows the nature of the terrain of the Corbières. The train is on the Tuchan - Ripaud line crossing the River Berre prior to entering the tunnel which thus avoids a bend in the route ”
(Collection P. Carenco)  >

The bridge over the Berre was built in 1850, enlarged in 1889 and the tunnel created in 1900.

The station at Villeneuve was used for the loading of minerals which had been transported by carts from the iron mines at Forques, or Cascastel and Albas. The freight transported most frequently was the wine produced at Villeneuve, Cascastel, Albas and Quintillan.
 
The barrels were placed on flat open wagons. The photographs show a bare landscape denuded of trees. Taken at the beginning of the 20^th century the barren aspect is the result of over pasturing by, in particular, goats, the use of wood to make charcoal for the iron smelting process, and wood for the ovens of the boulangers (bakers) and for heating in homes.

Villeneuve-les-Corbières (Aude)
The Station  >

During the First World War (1914-1918) traffic on the railway was reduced as a result of shortage of material for maintenance. In the years following the War the railway had insufficient capacity to cope with the increased traffic and the motor bus began to take over. The horse drawn stage coach service never ceased. The passengers took the bus when the train stopped and then saw it overtake them. Everyone arrived at Ripaud at the same time.

The photograph below showed the train loaded with empty barrels at La Nouvelle, arriving at Ripaud
Note the vehicle outside the passenger station. It seems to be a “ Quad ”bike!  v

Some improvements were made in 1924 and the new motorised vehicles gave satisfaction to the public. Despite this the losses continued and the Conseil Général, weary of paying the debts had an agreement with the ’Société des Transports Départementaux’ (The Department’s transport company). The passengers would take the bus and the freight continue using the train. The line to Tuchan would continue until 1931 but in 1932 it finally stopped.

From the beginning the steam trains of the Aude lacked vision and resources. At the beginning there were open carriages similar to the lorries. This was an economy. The tracks were laid at the side of the route so that the critical situation of transportation could be resolved quickly, but they hindered those who were using the road and finally hastened the dismemberment of the rails.

The route crossing the gorge at Ripaud deserves a mention because of the technical skills of the constructors. The route as a whole, however, had many bends, it was uneven, there was a lack of loading places, nothing of value was added, and it was not possible for long convoys to move rapidly and profitably.