The CFBS was able to preserve 11 bogie carriages of the 10500 series, built in 1921 by the Belgian Manage company to replace stock lost during WWI.
These composite carriages (1st/3rd class or 2nd/3rd class), with varnished wooden bodies and end-balconies, are thoroughly representative of French meter gauge secondary railways in the early 20th century.
Their authenticity leads them to appearing frequently in period films, the most recent being “Le Journal d’une Femme de Chambre” (“The Diary of a Chamber-Maid”) by Benoît Jacquot, released in 2015.
All these carriages were taken over by the CFBS when the railway closed to commercial services, in 1971/72, meaning that they have run continuously for almost a century.
However, their poor condition in the early 1970s led the Association to undertake a systematic restoration programme of the wooden bodies, conducted in partnership with a carpentry company in Abbeville. This company is in charge of the structural work, while the finishing tasks are carried out by the employees and volunteers of the Association in our works at St Valery. The preservation society is also in charge of restoring the chassis and bogies.
As of today, 3 Somme carriages have already been completely rebuilt, and two others extensively restored, enabling the Association to run splendid period consists. A fourth rebuilt carriage is currently undergoing finishing work, and the others will follow in the coming years.
When this work is completed, the CFBS will have the largest fleet of homogeneous meter-gauge heritage carriages in France.
Classées Monument Historique
ACf 10302, BCf 10501, BCf 10507, Bcf 10508, BCf 10510
Out of the 11 preserved “Somme” carriages, 9 are in service: BCf 10501, 10502, 10504, 10507, 10508, 10510, ACf 10302, 10303, 10308.
ACf 10301 is currently being rebuilt (it could be returned to service ca. 2021/22), while ACf 10305 is out of order and awaiting reconstruction.
