The Limoges-Bénédictins station was voted one of the most beautiful train stations in France in 2019, which was the year of its 90th anniversary. Enthusiasts of old steam locomotives and passenger cars patiently restore some of these railroad legends in the shadow of the station's superb bell tower. A dive into French railroad history.
A monumental train station
The first train station in Limoges was built in the mid-19th century on the site of a former Benedictine convent, which gave the station its name. It had three tracks and was a terminus for the line running to Paris via Orléans. By 1891, the station seemed too small. In 1908, Louis Barthou, the Minister of Transportation, considered the building unworthy of a city the size of Limoges, which had become a railroad hub. The World War I ushered in the expansion plans to a halt. The work did not start until 1924 and was finished in 1929.
Gare de Limoges - Les BénédictinsFondation du patrimoine
The station's bell tower reached 220 feet (67 m) in height, matching the clocktower at the Gare de Lyon in Paris, which was previously the highest in France.
The station was built over the railroad tracks.
The decor, between Art Nouveau and Art Deco, pays tribute to the city's arts, with two huge allegorical figures at the entrance: Porcelain (on the left) and Enamel (on the right).
The structure is made of more than 353,146 cubic feet (10,000 m³) of concrete and 63,566 cubic feet (1,800 m³) of steel, and the façades are decorated with cut stones.
Décor intérieur de la gare de Limoges - Les BénédictinsFondation du patrimoine
The imposing copper dome protects an interior cupola, dominating a hall with more than 43,055 square feet (4,000 m²) of floor space.
Its spandrels are decorated with allegories representing the regions the station serves: Gascony, Touraine, Brittany, and Limousin.
Vitrail de la Gare de Limoges - Les Bénédictins by Francis ChigotFondation du patrimoine
The bays illuminating this colossal hall are decorated with stained glass windows designed by a master glassmaker from the region, Francis Chigot.
He designed geometric and plant motifs, reminiscent of the foliage of two typical Limousin species: oak and chestnut.
A mobile heritage
Not far from this architectural masterpiece, which bears the 20th Century Heritage label, other examples of that innovative century are highlighted. The Conservatoire Ferroviaire Territoires Limousin Périgord (Limousin and Périgord Region Railway Conservation Association–CFTLP), mainly consisting of active and retired SNCF (National Company of French Railways) employees, is responsible for restoring these historic engines.
La locomotive à vapeur 231 K 82Fondation du patrimoine
One of these is the 231 K 82 steam locomotive, made in 1921 for the Paris-Lyon-Marseille rail network. Intended to lead passenger trains, it was attached to the Train Bleu (Blue Train), one of the most prestigious, which linked Calais and Nice.
After this network was electrified in the 1950s, the locomotive was moved to the Northern network, where it worked with another prestigious train: the Flèche d'Or, which took passengers from Paris to London in six hours, along with a ship between Calais and Dover.
The network's electrification continued, and the steam locomotive blew its last whistle on a journey between Amiens and Calais on January 11, 1969.
It was then kept in storage in Saint-Etienne for 40 years before being saved from oblivion by the association, which transported it by rail to Limoges for restoration.
This project was supported by the Fondation du Patrimoine (French Heritage Foundation), as well as by three sons of the locomotive's last engineer, who were members of the association.
Poste du chauffeur de la locomotive 231 K 82Fondation du patrimoine
They wanted to completely restore the mechanisms, so that it could return to service on tourist rail networks.
Here, you can admire the restored area designated for the mechanic, who operated the engine and always stood to the left of the operating booth.
Tas de charbon pour faire fonctionner les locomotivesFondation du patrimoine
The driver, who stood to the right of the operating booth, was in charge of heating the engine by fueling it with water and coal.
The driver would shovel coal manually. A journey of 186 miles (300 km) from Paris to Calais required between 6 and 9 tons of coal.
Locomotive 140 C 38Fondation du patrimoine
The 140 C 38 was the last steam locomotive operating commercially, running until 1975. Made in Great Britain in 1919, it enjoyed a golden retirement as a movie star. It was in the film On a Retrouvé la 7ème Compagnie (The Seventh Company Has Been Found).
Completely restored in 1996 by the CFTLP association, it now operates at the head of a tourist train, allowing people to admire the landscapes of the Vienne gorges.
La locomotive à vapeur 141 TD 740Fondation du patrimoine
The steam locomotive 141 TD 740, made in 1932, is listed as a Historic Monument. Its entire career, which ended in 1967, was in the Paris region, pulling suburban trains.
Acquired by the association in 1982, it required several thousand hours of restoration before it could be used again.
It stopped operating once again in 2012 because its axles needed maintenance work.
Ancienne voiture des PostesFondation du patrimoine
The CFTLP association has as many boxcars as cars. Boxcars carry materials whereas cars carry passengers.
Every large train had a mail car. Employees sorted the mail to deposit it at each station.
Voitures de 3e classe du réseau NordFondation du patrimoine
These third class cars, repainted in the summer of 2020 by the CFTLP association, ran on the Eastern rail networks starting in the 1930s.
Intérieur d'une voiture de 3e classe du réseau NordFondation du patrimoine
The cars' interiors were also preserved or restored to their original states, like this Second Class USI car from the 1960s.
The associations' members are dedicated to preserving all aspects of the railroad life.
LA GARE DE LIMOGES BENEDICTINS A TRAVERS 90 ANS D'HISTOIREFondation du patrimoine
A video review of the Limoges-Bénédictins train station's history: inaugurated in 1929, saved from a fire in 1998, and celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2019.
Our thanks to Alexie Martin-Ramos from Vienne Tourism, Carine Pauliac from the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Regional Tourism Committee, as well as the Conservatoire Ferroviaire Territoires Limousin Périgord association members for their hospitality and invaluable help.
