TEE museum citedutrain_2_eng

TEE Cité du Train

Doc: Mulhouse Cite du TrainTEE Exhibition Report 2015

A visit of the Railway Museum in Mulhouse, also known as the Cité du Train, stood a long time on the list. In February 2015 then followed the act of Visite du Musee, that can celebrate this year its 10th anniversary.After a fast train trip Basel french station - Mulhouse (20 minutes) you have to change to the specific and novel Tram-Train 3 and drive till the station "Musées". After 2 minutes walk you will reach the impressive building and Loge and pay the Plein tariff of 11:50 EUR.An additional visit to the Cité de l'Automobile was not our intention.For us, of course, the attraction is the specially created exhibition about TEE, which shows mainly french machines with adequate composition. Even the entry into the posters collection acts as a silent witness and is enhanced with optimum lighting.

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The powerful acting locomotives illuminate and captivate the TEE era in bright light, but the hall itself was still quite cold and quiet in February; it was almost deserted which brings only advantages for a series of photographs of this era.The majority of the TEE trains was then already drove with rolling stock locomotives and thus no railcars are to be found.

For me one of the highlights are the INOX cars of Mistral69 that appear timeless and distinctive. The by-Fouché Languepin, Paris, built "Mistral69" INOX cars were built for the SNCF. They settled in the TEE MISTRAL, and running from 1969 TEE PARIS-RUHR. Even in the 80s ot the trains the cars among the lesser-known TEE Molière, Memling, Faidherbe, Rubens or Watteau are to be seen.

Three trains associated with the Paris conurbation Lille-Roubaix-Tourcoing and perverse exclusively Monday to Friday without a summer high season. As a name was chosen names of famous personalities of the region, so that the TEE "Faidherbe", "Gayant" and "Watteau" created, the latter was a creative artist.

Since then pushed by the capacity of RAe TEE TEE II Cisalpin reached the limits (including across borders), the SBB have agreed also on the procurement program for INOX cars. The cars in 1974 purchased then in 1984 all 5 resold to SNCF.

1_TEE_Mistral.jpg Powerful then biased the Capitole as Lok BB 9291 are, later with the 6 axis CC 6500 in the Capitole series. In Mulhouse to see the CC 6572 right next to the imposing CC 40101 with the original Blason (crest emblem, see below) which was on the way, among other things with the TEE 85 "Etoile du Nord" to Brussels / Amsterdam. In my view, the CC-40000 is with more than 21 meters size, the biggest TEE locomotive ever.

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Starting in May 1967 as "Capitole" train designated as one of the first trains in France perverted even planned with 200 km / h. Both the rolling stock as well as the rebuilt for 200 km / h all BB 9278, 9281, 9282, 9288, 9291 and 9292 were specifically obtained a striking red and white paint for the route. This painting of the "Capitole" which covered the 713 km between Paris and Toulouse in just 6 hours, was a great success.

Usually there was a Capitole-set made of 10 to 11 cars. In the museum itself INOX cars are as well to find Grand Confort style. Since at the time not enough of Grand Confort car was available, the dispatcher had the train on weekdays usually supplemented with three to four wagons type ex- "Mistral".

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In 1970, the SNCF had for the TEE "Cisalpin" and the route Brussels - Paris ordered a total of 36 wagons type "Mistral" 69. With the additional cars that were available until the winter timetable 1974, it has a circulation Paris - Brussels reorganized and expanded. So two more pairs of trains have been created to the existing four TEE train routings which should relieve the existing and increasing supply. Also mentioned in the "Étoile du Nord" "Mistral" 69 cars were now to find.

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Next also original video footage is available at the museum, among other things, Mistral and Capitole trips; impressive is the always standing train driver e.g. Paris -Nice of Mistral. The Starzug Aquitaine SNCF received the former "Mistral" number TEE 1/2 and also managed according to the timetable the trip four hours from Paris without stopping to Bordeaux.

A tremendous strain for the drivers this non-stop ride endure on a train.

Auffalend ist auch die enorme Vibration und das regelmässige „Clignoter“ der Signale und Sirenen, die eine solch rasante Fahrt mit sich bringt. Man hat auch den Eindruck, dass Lok und Mensch bei diesen 4 Stunden am Limit sind, zumal die Wirkleistung mit der Verlustwärme sicher abnehmen muss.

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From the Starzug Aquitaine then around 13 years later, made the conversion to dual-class Rapide 181/180, the last ride was 30.05.1984 under TEE. 1What i was also aware of the visit to the Cité du Train, the last TEE trains were still on the road in France! After five train movements had survived the cutbacks, the "Gottardo" was the last international TEE.

The last four TEE relations perverted only within France. There were also busy with the conversion and integration of part of the Grand Confort- and Mistral-rolling stock on 2nd class busy as the rest of Europe turned to the IC's.

Adjacent right next door to the TEE exhibition also a model rail-road railway is represented, rarities of Jouef or Gerard can also be found there in the glass cases or on the plant, the plant is already very long in the tooth.Angrenzend gleich nebenan zur TEE Ausstellung ist auch eine Modellbahn

vertreten, Raritäten von Jouef oder Gerard sind auch dort in den Vitrinen oder auf der Anlage zu finden, wobei die Anlage schon sehr in die Jahre gekommen ist.

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What has voted me historically enthusiastic as too thoughtful, are the facts of the former resistance movement in France of the Résistance de Fer. I found out because the Résistance-Fer Blason can be found on the CC 6500 (see picture). Shown with video and an overturned in a realistic scene steam locomotive the former drama of World War II with the relevant acts of sabotage against the German Wehrmacht. The later following TEE movement and its European network has yet shown up today only peaceful trains!

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Culinary the museum also has a lot to offer and yet in the TEE style. Good Alsatian cuisine with „Flammkuchen“ or “Choucroute Alsacienne” can be found in the associated TEE restaurant called Mistral.

Text and Image: Max Kleiner

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