1890s Nice to Paris

[Peter Fox]

Just to do with a story I'm writing set about 1890. Could you get a through sleeper coach from Nice (in the springtime) to Paris? Or would you have to change at Marseilles? (I presume there were UK-term 'sleepers' on the PLM.)
This is a completely trivial question, no bit of the plot rests on it, but now I know I'm so ignorant I've become curious.

 

[SHD]

Yes there were, here is the 1886 Chaix (*), you'll want page 100 for the Paris-Nice timetable

https://wikiplm.railsdautrefois.fr/wikiPLM/documents/Chaix_1896_Hiver_RS.pdf

Paris-Nice train 10, Nice-Paris train 7, 1st class only between Marseille and Paris

(*) The filename says 1896, but the document appears to be from 1886

 

[nwales58]

PLM would not have operated any sleeper then.

Look up Compagnie internationale des wagons-lits, though you may have to dig in French if you can't find what you want.

CIWL had a near-monopoly, often their coaches attached to other trains. The rail fare was paid to the normal operator, e.g. PLM, and the hefty supplement went to WL.

Couchettes, operated by the train company, started in the 20th century (but I think were rare until after WWII).

Edit: quick dig suggest CIWL Rome-Express went via the Cote d'Azur in some years

English wikipedia says 1893 to 1897 (did you know this and the question is a forum test?)

Palatino Express - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

French wikipedia ought to be more reliable but it only mentions the Mont Cenis route

Rome Express (train) — Wikipédia

fr.wikipedia.org

so you need an accurate source.

I recall seeing a book on CIWL history, in French, some time 20 to 50 years ago but no idea beyond that.

 

[Peter Fox]

Hours of poring over that ahead. Thank you SHD.

PLM would not have operated any sleeper then.

Thank you for your lengthy reply nwales58. It all helps to build the ambience in a story from an era that is so far out of people's experience it might as well be Star Trek! Who would ever believe you didn't carry your own suitcases as there were porters you tipped and trusted to get you a cab quickly. Etc.

 

[Thames99]

I'm not sure of the situation in France, but porters were still in main railway stations here up to around the 1960s I think. Makes me feel old!

 

[citycat]

I'm not sure of the situation in France, but porters were still in main railway stations here up to around the 1960s I think. Makes me feel old!

I still remember the porters at Dover and especially Calais Maritime from childhood holidays. They would carry about three or four suitcases with their chest straps, up and down the wooden gangways of the ferries and take your cases all the way to the waiting Paris train for you, Gauloise clamped firmly in their mouth. Well into the seventies I think.

 

[StephenHunter]

I'm not sure of the situation in France, but porters were still in main railway stations here up to around the 1960s I think. Makes me feel old!

BR - and the Grouping companies before that - actually provided photographs of the interpreters at the Channel Port stations in their timetables.