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What station is this please? (Answer: Gare du Nord)

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bainsk8

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We have found a photo of the first French engine that operated the Paris to London Night Ferry Boat. Unfortunately while there is a fair bit of info about the service there is very little about the first engines and how the service first operated.

The photo can be seen here; http://www.flickr.com/photos/roobitphotography/6801797204/

Please read the comments posted below, as you will read that I think it is London Victoria, I understand that rail gauge here is different to Europe but is it possible the train could of rolled on are lines?
 
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OxtedL

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If you look here at one of the links quoted in the comments, it is implied that different motive power was used on each side of the Channel. This would make sense, as there is little point carrying an operating steam locomotive across on a ferry when you have to shunt the whole train anyway at the other end, so you may as well change locomotive for operational simplicity.

Therefore I reckon the nationality of the loco should tell you which side of the Channel it's on. I'm not an expert in this kind of thing though, so ask someone else. :D

The tiny amount of platform visible is quite low, suggesting it might well be continental. Nonetheless, the styling of the station in the top right is reminiscent of some British stations, which has thrown me a bit.
 

bainsk8

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Yes it is the station decor, especially the iron criss cross styling of the trusts and the column capitals that are very much like Victoria, its this that is throwing me. I have yet to find a photo of Paris Gare du Nord that resembles anything like this. Unless its a station that was on route from Dunkirk to Paris?
 

bainsk8

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Thank you Peter, that clears that one up. I wish I could of found some better images of Paris Gare du Nord before jumping to conclusions. Thanks again, I have learnt quite a bit from the photograph that was found.
 

John Webb

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It was not the practice to take locos across the Channel on ferries - firstly they weigh too much and would have needed extra-stong fittings to fasten them to the deck during the crossing, secondly they took up room more usefully occupied by revenue-earning coaches, thirdly there might be problems if the ferry was delayed and the loco started running out of water and last, but not least, French locos, while running on the same gauge track exceeded the British loading gauge (ie were too high/wide) and could not run on this side of the Channel.

So the photo has to be in France as someone has now confirmed while I was writing this!
 

bainsk8

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Thank you John, as guessed I knew absolutely nothing of trains and differences in loading gauges before. Now I know better, thanks again.
 

coupwotcoup

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It was not the practice to take locos across the Channel on ferries - firstly they weigh too much and would have needed extra-stong fittings to fasten them to the deck during the crossing, secondly they took up room more usefully occupied by revenue-earning coaches, thirdly there might be problems if the ferry was delayed and the loco started running out of water and last, but not least, French locos, while running on the same gauge track exceeded the British loading gauge (ie were too high/wide) and could not run on this side of the Channel.

So the photo has to be in France as someone has now confirmed while I was writing this!

I bow to your better knowledge but I am sure that I've seen pictures in the past of ferry boats from Folkestone? with rails on them.
Did this not happen - ie transporting whole trains over to France?
Excuse my ignorance but it sort of fascinates me.
 

Clip

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I bow to your better knowledge but I am sure that I've seen pictures in the past of ferry boats from Folkestone? with rails on them.
Did this not happen - ie transporting whole trains over to France?
Excuse my ignorance but it sort of fascinates me.

Im not sure about Folkestone but they did convey trains over but only the coaches/freight wagaons.. Locos were left either side of the channel to pick them up again for reasons outlined above
 

Schnellzug

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231 E 11, according to the Source, was a compound rebuild from 1925-30 of an older ex PLM loco,a nd the Night Ferry was introduced in 1936, so it must be later than that at any rate.
 
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