Hello everyone,
I've been away on holiday for two weeks and have enjoyed numerous E-mails on my
return. Just the briefest of comments on these - I agree 100% with Nigel Smith
regarding the pigeon van, it's quite an attraction and great fun for guards also
- a lot of these "lesser" attractions seem to be the way forward. Also it's good
to see safety at the foot crossings being debated sensibly and ideas put
forward.

The purpose of this communication is to tell you about the railway in Corsica,
from whence I have just returned. It is a narrow gauge railway and uses diesel
railcars, so is just about as far as you can get from the GCR, so I hope the
moderator will let me get away with this one! There is a (very) vague connection
with the GCR with regard to pricing!

Corsica is a Mediterranean island which is part of France. Its railway was built
at the end of the last century and runs between the two major towns of Ajaccio
and Bastia, a distance of 152 kilometers, with a branch from Ponte Leccia to
Calvi. It rises to a height of about 4000 feet above sea level ( I have to guess
at some of the details because as far as I am aware the only book on the railway
is in French) and makes the West Highland seem like a trip from Ely to Norwich.
The line is single throughout with a tunnel of over 4 km, numerous smaller ones,
many of which are built on sharp curves, and many viaducts. Mountains around the
line rise to over 7000 feet. The line appears to be operated by radio control,
since there are few signals, no train staff system and crossing of trains often
takes place other than at the schedule crossings. The points at crossing
stations are spring loaded so that oncoming trains are always deflected into the
correct platform. Levels crossings are automatic barriers and are numerous, even
over the main road on the island, but hold-ups are limited since there are only
4 trains each way per day. The scenery is quite magnificent throughout. The
stations, many of which are simply a raised brick or concrete platform at the
side of the line, have some interesting names. One is called PK79-800, I've no
idea why, and there is a one called "Venaco Piscene", the only station I know
which serves a town swimming-pool!

The driver of the two-car diesel railcar leaves his door open and seems quite
happy to receive visitors. On our return journey he was accompanied throughout
by two men, a dog, and a young blonde French girl! We collided with a herd of
wild goats, and later a pig, since the line is unfenced, but no real harm was
done! I took a return trip from Ponte Leccia to Ajaccio, a total distance of
210 kilometers and a time of over 5 hours. The cost? 125 French Francs (after
25% "Touristique" discount), about £12.30! There's no catering, though, so no
all-day breakfast!

Corsica is a great place for a holiday (complete absence of lager-louts) and if
you go there, the railway journey is unmissable.

Sorry if I've bored you

Jim Taylor


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