Steam Train Rides in the Sarthe (Pays de la Loire)

Steam Train Rides in the Upper Sarthe

(Pays de la Loire)

For steam train enthusiasts, or those simply looking for something a little out of the ordinary to do, the Sarthe Steam Railway (run by Transvap, a group of amateurs who care for and restore the locomotives) is open for Sunday trips from this weekend and is just half an hour from us.

Corpet-Louvet 030T – “La Chéronne”

“La Ligne des Ducs” – the Line of the Dukes

The steam train “La Cheronne” dating from 1923 travels the length of the Jousse valley on part of the old railway line from Mamers  to Saint-Calais. It was originally funded by the lords of the region from which it gets the name “the Line of the Dukes.”  It is a nostalgic journey of 17km through the Perche countryside, the route from Connerré to Bonnétable passing through Beillé, Tuffé and Prévelles.

The Transvap group also has a collection of other steam trains undergoing restoration, historic electric railcars, pre-war buses adapted for rail use in the 1930’s, railway wagons and coaches.

As well as the steam train, post-war “Billard” and “Picasso” motorised railcars (“autorails) also run the route on Sundays.

The trains run every Sunday in July and August to a regular timetable and one ticket is valid for the whole day, which means you can hop on and off different trains at the station halts.  They also run on 14th July and 15th August (the summer national holidays).

Reservations not required: tickets are 11€ for adults, 9€ for children (2012).

Billard railcars

At Tuffé you can also visit the Tuffé Priory; the priory house, cloisters (hosting a pottery workshop), the pigeon house, the barn and gardens are free for self-guided visits (2€ guided visits).   Open Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m in July and August.

Train Timetable

1st Train : AUTORAIL

	Station	Arrive	Depart
OUT	Connerré Beillé – Transvap		10h30
	Tuffé town	10h44	10h45
	Tuffé lake	10h48	10h50
	Prévelles	11h00	11h01
	Bonnétable	11h21
9 minute halt
BACK	Bonnétable		11h30
	Prévelles	11h50	11h51
	Tuffé lake	12h01 2 hour lunch	14h00
	Tuffé town	14h03	14h04
	Connerré Beillé – Transvap	14h18

2nd Train : AUTORAIL

	Gare	Arrive	Depart
OUT	Connerré Beillé – Transvap		11h45
	Tuffé town	11h59	12h00
	Tuffé lake	12h03
5 minute halt
BACK	Tuffé lake		12h08
	Tuffé town	12h11	12h12
	Connerré Beillé – Transvap	12h26

3rd Train : STEAM

	Gare	Arrive	Depart
OUT	Connerré Beillé – Transvap		15h00
	Tuffé town	15h24	15h25
	Tuffé lake	15h29	15h35
	Prévelles	15h52	15h54
	Bonnétable	16h15
30 minute halt
BACK	Bonnétable		16h45
	Prévelles	17h09	17h15
	Tuffé lake	17h27	18h00
	Tuffé town	18h04	18h05
	Connerré Beillé – Transvap	18h25