Steam locomotives - France: books - by region

Le dépôt vapeur du Mans (1854-1974)

This work, rich in anecdotes, testimonies, facsimiles, photos and documents on the types of locomotives, bears witness to the great history of this depot, a true railway hub of the West, in the era of steam.
Many former railway agents contributed to its writing, with a moving spontaneity in making available the documents in their possession.

The joy of sharing the wealth of their personal archives as well as a not so distant experience, that was their deep motivations. Retracing with precision, on a daily basis, the life of a large depot like that of Le Mans, where joys, sorrows, heroism, solidarity, and team spirit rubbed shoulders, was for the author, S. G. Morin, the fruit of nearly four years of research and friendly contacts.

This book is therefore aimed at "lovers" of the railway, as well as at each resident of Le Mans wishing to rediscover a part of the history of their railway heritage.

Product details

Trains de l'Est - Une collection oubliée

Born in 1892, Henri Vial was one of the first generations of railway enthusiasts. He preferred the network serving his region: the East. He tirelessly photographed its steam trains, from the 1910s to the immediate post-war period, with a talent that set him apart from many others.

He also enriched his collection with photographs taken by those who shared his passion, including Pol Gillet and Albert Henri. Thanks to heirs who were aware of the exceptional heritage that this collection represents, a selection of the most beautiful and rarest photographs is now published in volume 9 of "Images de trains". A real hidden treasure that is coming back to light.

Product details

Vapeur sur la Région Est

This volume is dedicated to the formidable collection of photographs by Jacques-Henri Renaud between 1948 and 1962. These 283 black and white photographs were taken, this time, on the Eastern Region of the SNCF at the time of steam.
The photographer had a particular attraction to the Alsace-Lorraine network with its atypical lines and locomotives. The charm of these lines on the antennas and verges, the great diversity of trains and landscapes traveled are perfectly highlighted in this album which gives pride of place to images, captioned by experts in the field.

Product details

Vapeur sur la Région Nord

This book presents a selection of 295 photographs, among the most characteristic of the railway landscape of the Northern Region of the SNCF in the fifties. It comes from the hundreds of original "North" negatives, taken by Jacques-Henri Renaud from 1947 to 1962. The quality of the shots in this collection, which until then remained confidential, is exceptional, as is its diversity.

The authors of these lines had the opportunity to acquire it, with the desire to make it known and shared, by providing the images, published for a large number in large format, with precise and varied captions combining technique and atmosphere.
The editions of La Vie du Rail, by producing this first volume of photographs signed Jacques-Henri Renaud, pay tribute to one of their former collaborators, who leaves one of the most beautiful collections on a vanished world, but still so alive thanks to the majesty of the steam locomotive.

Product details