Chemin de fer de Petite Ceinture: abandoned Paris "little belt railway"

[lynnb]

I just came across an interesting article about photographer Pierre Folk's project "by the silent line", documenting the Chemin de fer de Petite Ceinture, the old Paris "little belt railway". I'd never heard of this railway before, although some photos remind me of locations that may have been used for movies.

The railway was 32 km line encircling Paris, connecting all the major railway stations within fortified walls during the Industrial Revolution. It operated from 1852 to 1934.

Folk's pictures are in colour, although I think some of them might have worked better in bw. Worth a look if you like Paris, and abandoned railways.

Feel welcome to add any photos of the line you might have taken to this thread.

 

[xxloverxx]

I've wanted to get in there for quite a while now (there are no "official" entrances, only gaps in fences) but never found the right time.

 

[Robin P]

Thanks for the link Lynn, some lovely evocative photos there.

 

[StefanJozef]

I remember reading about the railway a while back and thought if I ever get to Paris I must attempt entry. Thanks for the Link Lynn.

 

[maddoc]

Thanks for the link!

 

[siracusa]

I've wanted to get in there for quite a while now (there are no "official" entrances, only gaps in fences) but never found the right time.

Yes, access has been forbidden for a long time, but there is at least one short section that is open - I know there is a nature walk along the Petit Ceinture in the 16th and I thought there was also another part of it, perhaps in the 15th that was accessible for walks, though I may be wrong. There are perhaps more. It also runs through Parc Montsouris in the 14th, which would seem to be a more straightforward way of accessing another part of it than most of the other spots along the old route.

Thanks for the link, Lynn.

 

[KansanTim]

Thanks for the link! It looks like an interesting project. Does anyone know where the last photo was taken? It looks like there is a walkway there, unlike most of the places. I would be interested to hear of any access (preferably legal, but would appreciate all information) that people know about. I've seen bits and pieces of the railway, such as in the Parc Montsouris and a fair amount in the 15th, but have never been on the line like the perspective of most of the photos. The similar Promenade plantée is nice for a walk (it is mentioned and linked in the article), but is pretty developed, so doesn't exactly strike one as an old railway. A walk down the abandoned track certainly has an edgier cool than the more bobo Promenade.

 

[Joao]

Some points of acess here
http://www.paris.fr/accueil/Portal.lut?document_id=134332&image_number=2

 

[siracusa]

Thanks for the link! It looks like an interesting project. Does anyone know where the last photo was taken?

I'm not sure we are seeing the same last image (I've had problems viewing them for some reason), but if the one you are thinking of is of an old bridge above the street, then this is rue de Vaugirard.

 

[KansanTim]

Some points of acess here
http://www.paris.fr/accueil/Portal.lut?document_id=134332&image_number=2

Thank you for the link!

 

[KansanTim]

I'm not sure we are seeing the same last image (I've had problems viewing them for some reason), but if the one you are thinking of is of an old bridge above the street, then this is rue de Vaugirard.

Thanks, but we weren't viewing the same image. I meant the last one in the article, which I now see is the second to last one on the photographer's slideshow. It is taken from an elevated perspective (on the line or right next to it), with a pathway and people on the line going between two buildings on the left side of the image. You can see from the right side of the photo that the line is several stories up, or one might have thought it was along the ground.

EDIT: From the link Joao gave, it appears there might be a somewhat developed section people can walk along in the 15th, and that could be it, seen from the line itself. I was mainly curious where this section people are apparently allowed to walk along was located.

 

[OurManInTangier]

An interesting project and some fascinating photographs, a great link Lynn.

It's an interesting topic too in terms of the land itself. Its meaning to the people of Paris, the needs of the citizens both now and in the future, their relationship with the past and, as for denizens of any city, their relationship to and ability to have areas of a more natural environment. The need for more housing being an ever present weighed against the need to preserve both some of 'our' history and green spaces. Very thought provoking.

 

[siracusa]

Thanks, but we weren't viewing the same image. I meant the last one in the article, which I now see is the second to last one on the photographer's slideshow. It is taken from an elevated perspective (on the line or right next to it), with a pathway and people on the line going between two buildings on the left side of the image. You can see from the right side of the photo that the line is several stories up, or one might have thought it was along the ground.

EDIT: From the link Joao gave, it appears there might be a somewhat developed section people can walk along in the 15th, and that could be it, seen from the line itself. I was mainly curious where this section people are apparently allowed to walk along was located.

Sorry about that! After googling petit ceinture I've just found this reblog/translation of a blog post:
http://bistrobarblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/la-petite-ceinture-de-paris.html
A similar image appears to the second to last image of the slideshow in the original link. It seems it's in the 20th perhaps?

 

[rodt16s]

The Beeb also had a short article on it last year

 

[KansanTim]

Sorry about that! After googling petit ceinture I've just found this reblog/translation of a blog post:
http://bistrobarblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/la-petite-ceinture-de-paris.html
A similar image appears to the second to last image of the slideshow in the original link. It seems it's in the 20th perhaps?

Thanks for that link! I can't go through it all at the moment, but it looks interesting and helpful for answering my question.

 

[aldobonnard]

Thank you for the last link. Interesting.

It is fortunate that this line is not open to the general public and especially tourists. Access to most of this line is not only restricted, but clearly forbidden and Police patrols regularly, more so to close the unauthorised entries to the Catacombes.