Curiously, One of My Most Potent Early Memories of Living in Paris
Sorry guys, you're going to have to indulge me for a moment or two.
Cos I came across some photos of the older style carriages of the Paris Metro - and realised they represented one of my most potent early memories of living in Paris.
They were Sprague-Thomson rolling stock, built between 1926 and 1935 and still in use when I was there.
I can even vividly remember the particularly intense screech of the metal wheels on the track as the carriages braked when the train came into the station ...
... and the release of compressed air when the door were released for passengers to be able to leave the train ...
I'd forgotten that first class and green second class carriages were red and green respectively ...
... and then recalled they were distinguished inside mainly in the seating ...
... with very very (very) hard veneered wooden slats in second class ...
I have a dim memory of other interior features ...
... but a strong one of the driver's compartment ...
All so incredibly up close and personal - thanks for the indulgence guys!
I'm sure there must be things that do the same for you?
=O
ReplyDeleteThose trains were absolutely beautiful! I'm living in Santiago, Chile, and we're supposed to have one of the most modern metro's, including europeans, but I can tell you, I'd rather be traveling on one of those pieces than the ones we have here!
hey Vod
ReplyDeletegood to hear from you - and that you understand my love of these old carriages!
i think as much as anything they were some of my first experiences of the city and are power for me because of that - and the excitement of first going about the city to discover it
wish we had some of them here in sydney instead of the super new ones we do have.
best, nick ;)
Reminds me of the old trolley cars in New Orleans. A big thrill of going to New Orleans when I was a small child was to ride the cars. Almost all of them were removed for more modern modes of travel. Sad.
ReplyDeleteHave a great holiday season!
wit.
hey wit
ReplyDeletegood to hear
we used to have old style trams in melbourne - and still do - it's great when they keep the old with the new.
did they keep a few of the old ones in service in new orleans too?
have a great holiday season too - hope to be in touch again, nick
There is one line with the old trolleys in New Orleans. I made sure that my children rode them just for the pure historical side adventure.
ReplyDeletewit.
Postings like this are one of the many reasons I love your blog (oh, and the delicious guys, too...). I never know what I'm going to find on it (Margot Fonteyn, old Parisian subways cars, an inside look at a ballet star's 19th century London home...), but it's always arresting, soulful, heartfelt, fascinating and (dare I say it) educational. The fact that there are beautiful men sprinkled liberally throughout only heightens the headiness of the eclectic mix. Thanks for sharing your multi-dimensional passions with us, Nick!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting. I love your blog
ReplyDeletehey wit
ReplyDeletethat's really great they still operate on one line in new oeleans
and that you were able to take your kids on them - bet they loved it - like time travel - which always held my imagination as a kid - even now!
best, nick
hey david
ReplyDeletethanks david
really appreciated your comment!
while i very much like putting the non-guy posts together i'm pleased that others enjoy them too - and as i've said before it lets me bring what's above my waist into play too - nothing wrong with exploring the nether regions of course!
and i appreciate as do your wide-ranging comments - so thanks again!
nick
hey sir's biy
ReplyDeletethanks - i very much appreciate the indulgence you and others show me!
cheers, nick
I agree totally with David's comments.
ReplyDeleteThis is such an interesting post. What one generation often takes for granted, a later generation can find very precious. I love the way you sometimes reminds us of this.
Back in the 1990s San Francisco started to occasionally use historic street cars on a couple of its lines; there were even some from elsewhere (I remember especially one from Milan.) Not sure quite how that all came about, but it was a marvelous touch to the city.
hey paul in NYC
ReplyDeleteglad you found the post interesting - i seriously thought it would evoke a loud and unmuffled yawn from everyone!
it's good when cities maintain in part their old technologies - Adelaide here keeps one tram (trolley) line going - from the city to one of the beaches
and you're right, it's good for tourism
take care, nick
hey paul in NYC
ReplyDeleteglad you found the post interesting - i seriously thought it would evoke a loud and unmuffled yawn from everyone!
it's good when cities maintain in part their old technologies - Adelaide here keeps one tram (trolley) line going - from the city to one of the beaches
and you're right, it's good for tourism
take care, nick
Hi, Nick. I was there in 1959 and I think these cars were still in use. Nostalgia! They evoke the smell of Gauloises1
ReplyDeletehey jason_m
ReplyDeletethey were still there in the mid 70s when i was there as a kid - then the rubber wheeled/rubber tracks carriages arrived
talking of smells, do you remember the general smell of the metro - i guess a disinfectant but it was/is so evocative for me now
lucky to have been there when you were!
hey jason_m
ReplyDeletethey were still there in the mid 70s when i was there as a kid - then the rubber wheeled/rubber tracks carriages arrived
talking of smells, do you remember the general smell of the metro - i guess a disinfectant but it was/is so evocative for me now
lucky to have been there when you were!
Very interested in your Paris Metro pics. As a bit of a train buff, it's the carriages that have my greatest interest in railways. Great pics. Actually there's a video clip on the web of two guys 'getting it on' on a practically empty carriage (not sure where). Very erotic!
ReplyDeletehey paedro
ReplyDeleteglad you liked the post - my interest is in the carriages too - but from a more amateur angle i think - i love that these represent a wonderful early phase of my life
there's a clip of cameron jackson getting it totally on with the train conductor ... and one with a couple of guys side-by-side on a railway carriage seat - ring any bells? both r hot!
good to hear from you, nick
Hi Nick, great post, I remember the old trolley buses in London and the sparks that came of the tracks when they got to a junction, nice memories to have, keep up the good work.
ReplyDeletehey juicer
ReplyDeletethanks - and i remember sparks too - from the old iron wheels of trams on their metal tracks - trams that still run in melbourne - and which are now something of a tourist thing - so great that didn't ditch them in favour of buses as they'd planned!
take care, nick
I do remember the general smell of the metro and you're probably right, disinfectant plus some je ne sais quoi. Remember the vending machines? Pastilles?
ReplyDeletehey jason_m
ReplyDeletethe smell of the underground is still there, unbelievably - i was living in paris in 2003 and on the first day walked over an air vent up from the metro - and was suddenly enveloped in nostalgia
i don't remember the vending machines - but do recall the pneumatic gates which gave access to the platform - particularly the noise of the escaping air