Ardoisières d'Angers, Trélazé, Maine et Loire, France.
23rd September 1997

Part of a once extensive network of 500mm gauge, 600mm gauge and metre gauge lines connecting winding shafts, waste tips and splitting factories of the slate producing region near Angers, Loire, France. When these photos were taken only one small section of the surface 600mm gauge line was still in operation.

Slate was being wound at 'Puits 25' in the village of St Lezin, battery locos built by Bartz being used underground. Slate came to the surface in either slabs or waste on a combination of modular wagons. These consisted of a standard four-wheel bogie onto which large blocks could be loaded alone. For smaller blocks a flat body with stakes was fitted to the standard bogie and for waste a tub body was used.

The various wagon combinations were marshalled into long rakes at the surface loop sidings before being taken to the splitting factory at ‘Tire-Poche’ by one of the two Gmeinder diesel locos. There, trains were unloaded and returned to the marshalling sidings at the pit-head shaft.

Shortly before my visit much of the line near ‘Puits 25’ had been re-laid bypassing a large triangular junction which had linked this system with the extensive waste tips and ‘Puits 26’, another shaft recently closed. Unfortunately, this system finally gave way to road transport and a new, gigantic road-served adit constructed for slate extraction.

Apologies for the poor quality of these images, they are scanned prints - never ideal!

If anyone has information regarding the Bartz battery locos I'd be very interested to hear from them, I'd particularly like dimensions, drawings and manufacturers information to enable me to produce a CAD drawing for modelling purposes. I believe the examples used here are types GA04-J01, GA04-J02 and GA04-J03.

<-- Index | Showing 1-21 of 21 pictures | Index -->
A first glimpse of a Gmeinder diesel loco through the gates of 'Puits 25'.
A first glimpse of a Gmeinder diesel loco through the gates of 'Puits 25'.
 One of the Gmeinders arriving with a train of empty wagons.
One of the Gmeinders arriving with a train of empty wagons.
 Propelling the empty rake into the loop sidings ready to be lowered one-by-one down the shaft.
Propelling the empty rake into the loop sidings ready to be lowered one-by-one down the shaft.
 Crossing one of the internal roads.
Crossing one of the internal roads.
Ready to depart with a loaded train for the slate splitting factory.
Ready to depart with a loaded train for the slate splitting factory.
 A long rake of empty waste slate tubs being propelled towards the shaft.
A long rake of empty waste slate tubs being propelled towards the shaft.
 A good view of a Gmeinder diesel loco, re-engined with a large 100hp Deutz air-cooled engine, hence the bonnet extensions.
A good view of a Gmeinder diesel loco, re-engined with a large 100hp Deutz air-cooled engine, hence the bonnet extensions.
 A rake of empty bogies. Onto these different bodies could be quickly fitted depending on the load to be carried.
A rake of empty bogies. Onto these different bodies could be quickly fitted depending on the load to be carried.
Bogies passing into the pit-head building before going underground.
Bogies passing into the pit-head building before going underground.
 An automatic traverser and hydraulic rams constantly loaded empty wagons into the cage, thus pushing loaded wagons out the other side.
An automatic traverser and hydraulic rams constantly loaded empty wagons into the cage, thus pushing loaded wagons out the other side.
 Loaded wagons rolled into the loops to be made up into rakes.
Loaded wagons rolled into the loops to be made up into rakes.
 General view of the head-gear and pit-head buildings.
General view of the head-gear and pit-head buildings.
A busy scene at the surface yard.
A busy scene at the surface yard.
 Dumped fuel bowser wagon.
Dumped fuel bowser wagon.
 A Gmeinder with train en-route to 'Tire-Poche' and the splitting factory.
A Gmeinder with train en-route to 'Tire-Poche' and the splitting factory.
 Returning from the splitting factory, passing through the waste tips.
Returning from the splitting factory, passing through the waste tips.
Another loaded train passes through the tips.
Another loaded train passes through the tips.
 The disused waste line ended at this tipping dock where waste was then moved to the tips by mechanical shovel.
The disused waste line ended at this tipping dock where waste was then moved to the tips by mechanical shovel.
 A general view of the semi disused yard at 'Tire-Poche'. Behind the camera is the slate splitting factory and run-round loop. The conveyor in the centre originally loaded rakes of Decauville skips destined for the vast waste tips.
A general view of the semi disused yard at 'Tire-Poche'. Behind the camera is the slate splitting factory and run-round loop. The conveyor in the centre originally loaded rakes of Decauville skips destined for the vast waste tips.
 A Bartz battery-electric loco undergoing overhaul in the modest workshop. At the time these photos were taken a number of these small but powerful battery locos were used underground.
A Bartz battery-electric loco undergoing overhaul in the modest workshop. At the time these photos were taken a number of these small but powerful battery locos were used underground.
One of the derelict pit-heads and winding houses. This was opposite 'Puits 25' and was orginally served by a dual gauge 600mm/metre gauge line.
One of the derelict pit-heads and winding houses. This was opposite 'Puits 25' and was orginally served by a dual gauge 600mm/metre gauge line.
© 1998-2009 James Smith - All copyrights rest with the Author
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