The Amplepuis–Saint-Vincent-de-Reins railway was a standard gauge railway in the Rhône department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France, which was operated by the Compagnie du chemin de fer d’intérêt local d’Amplepuis à Saint-Vincent-de-Reins (ASV) from 1907 to 1928.

History From 1929, the line was operated by the Chemin de fer du Rhône (CFR) until it was closed in 1935.FACS – Patrimoine Ferroviaire.Histoire du train de Saint-Vincent. After the closure, the line was dismantled, and the locomotives, wagons and rails were sold to be exported for the construction of the railway network in Ethiopia.

The line was used for the transport of passengers and goods. The freight traffic consisted mainly of wood and coal, which were needed in the weaving mills and spinning mills, among others, which were increasingly powered by steam engines:

Usines Gouttenoire et Cie (now Deveaux SA), Mechanical Cotton Weaving Mill, in the hamlet of Gouttenoire near Saint-Vincent-de-ReinsSaint-Vincent-de-Reins - Les Filatures - Vue generale des Usines Gouttenoire et Cie - Tissage Mecanique de Cottonades.Saint-Vincent-de-Reins - Interieur d'Usine - Parage. Usine Rollin, mechanical weaving mill, St-Vincent-de-ReinsSt-Vincent-de-Reins - Vallee du Rins - Principales Usines. Usine Suchel, in the hamlet of La TuliereSaint-Vincent-de-Reins - Vue generale de l'Usine Suchel - Tissage Mecanique de Cottonages. Usine Deveaux (Filature Hydraulique de P. Lacroix, L. Lacroix & Berger Successeurs), Saint-Vincent-de-ReinsUsine Deveaux (Filature Hydraulique de P. Lacroix, L. Lacroix & Berger Successeurs a St Vincent de Rhims pres Thizy). Usine textile au LacheronSaint-Vincent-de-Reins – Au Lacheron.

Route The long local railway line with a gauge of ran from Amplepuis on PLM's Roanne–Lyon railway via Le Bancillon, Cublize and Meaux/Magny to Saint-Vincent-de-Reins.Jean Randé und Francois Librini: Amplepuis Saint-Vincent-de-Reins. In: Archéologie ferroviaire (v2) – Atlas des lignes de chemins de fer disparues. An extension through a tunnel to Belleroche had already been planned and marked out in 1914. However, World War I prevented the construction work necessary for the line extension.

Stations and locomotives Station Photo Remarks Amplepuis PLM connections to Lyon and Roanne Le Bancillon Cublize Meaux/Magny Saint-Vincent-de-Reins Locomotive Photo Remarks L’Esperance

References