View source for Le Châtelet-sur-Retourne–Juniville–Vouziers railway line

{{Short description|Railway line in France}}
{{infobox rail line
|name = Châtelet-sur-Retourne–Juniville–Vouziers
|logo=
|logo_width =
|image = Soldaten einer deutschen Eisenbahnpioniereinheit treten am 3. Mai 1916 für die Eröffnungszeremonie der neu gebauten Linie Vouziers–Le Chatelet am Bahnhof Machault (Ardennes) in Frankreich an.jpg
|image_width =
|caption = German soldiers during the opening ceremony on 3&nbsp;May 1916 in [[Machault, Ardennes|Machault]] <br />
[[File:Trasse der ehemaligen Bahnstrecke Vouziers–Juniville–Le Châtelet-sur-Retourne auf OpenStreetMap.jpg|250px]]<br />
Former route of the track superimposed onto a modern map<ref>[https://remonterletemps.ign.fr/comparer/basic?x=4.492177&y=49.367280&z=12&layer1=GEOGRAPHICALGRIDSYSTEMS.MAPS.SCAN50.1950&layer2=ORTHOIMAGERY.ORTHOPHOTOS&mode=scope IGN: Remonter le Temps.]</ref><ref name="Schweitzer">Stefan Schweitzer: [https://www.morthomme.com/semide.html ''Langer Max – 38-cm-SK-L/45 vor Verdun.'']</ref>
|gauge = Tramway: {{track gauge|600 mm|lk=on}}<br />
CA, initially: {{track gauge|800 mm|lk=on}}<br />
CA, after 1924: {{track gauge|1000 mm|lk=on}}<br />
Military line: {{track gauge|1435 mm|lk=on}}
|linelength ={{convert|42|km|mi|sigfig=1}}
|map = {{routemap|inline=1|map =
~~km~~
\\exKBHFa~~0~~[[Le Châtelet-sur-Retourne]]
\\exBHF~~3~~[[Neuflize]]
\\exBHF~~6~~[[Alincourt]]
\\exBHF~~9~~[[Juniville]]
\\exHST~~13~~[[Bignicourt]] ([[Haltepunkt]])
\\exBHF~~14~~[[Ville-sur-Retourne]]
\\exBHF~~17~~[[Pauvres]]
\\exBHF~~19~~[[Mont-Saint-Remy]]
\\exBHF~~23~~[[Machault, Ardennes|Machault]]
\exKBHFa\exSTR~~[[Commons:Category:Nécropole nationale d'Orfeuil|Orfeuil]]
exKDSTaq\exABZg+r\exSTR~~[[38 cm SK L/45 "Max"|''"Langer Max"'' (38-cm-SK-L/45)]]
\exSTRl\exABZg+r
\\exBHF~~30~~[[Semide]]
\\exBHF~~33~~[[Contreuve]]
\\exBHF~~35~~[[Sugny]]
\\exBHF~~37~~[[Sainte-Marie, Ardennes|Sainte-Marie]]
\\exBHF~~41~~[[Vouziers]]-Marizy
\\exKBHFe~~42~~[[Vouziers]]<ref>[[:File:Chaix 1914 p VI-130 &131 CDA.jpg|''Chemins de fer départementaux des Ardennes. Le Châtelet-sur-Retourne a Vouziers.'']] 1914.</ref><ref name="Schweitzer"/>
}}
}}
The '''Le Châtelet-sur-Retourne–Juniville–Vouziers railway line''' was a {{convert|42|km|mi|sigfig=1}} long railway line in the north of France with a gauge of initially {{track gauge|800 mm|lk=on}} and later {{track gauge|1000 mm|lk=on}}.
== History ==
=== Narrow gauge and metre gauge railway ===
The line was built with a gauge of {{track gauge|800 mm|lk=on}} for strategic reasons, to make it difficult for an enemy army to use in the event of an invasion. Even after the ban on the use of [[metre gauge]] had been lifted and most of the lines of the operating company had been converted to metre gauge, the unusual gauge was still maintained.
The {{convert|9|km|mi|sigfig=2}} narrow gauge section from Le Châtelet-sur-Retourne to Juniville was put into service on 10 December 1900 and inaugurated on 10 February 1901 by the [[Chemins de fer départementaux des Ardennes]] (CA).<ref>"Opening of the Châtelet-Juniville local railway.  The Châtelet-Juniville local railway, built by the Directorate of the French Eastern Railway, was opened to traffic on 10 February (1901).  The 9 km long line, located in the department of Ardennes, branches off from Châtelet station of the Bozancourt - Châtelet - Mözieres section of the main Paris - Reims - Bozancourt - Charleville - Longuion - Luxembourg and Longuion - Metz line." ''(„Eröffnung  der  Localbahn  Châtelet–Juniville.  Die  von  der  Direction  der  Französischen  Ostbahn erbaute Localbahn Châtelet-Juniville wurde am 10. Februar (1901) dem Betriebe  übergeben.  Die  im  Departement  Ardennes  liegende 9 km lange Linie zweigt von der  Station Châtelet der  Theilstrecke Bozancourt — Châtelet — Mözieres der gesellschaftlichen Hauptlinie Paris — Reims — Bozancourt — Charleville — Longuion — Luxembourg  und Longuion — Metz  ab.“)'' In: [https://archive.org/details/verordnungsblatt1901aust/page/966/mode/1up?q=Chatelet-Juniville ''Verordnungsblatt für Eisenbahnen und Schiffahrt<!--sic!-->: Mit den “Veröffentlichungen in tarif- und transportangelegenheiten”'']. Redigiert im k. k. Eisenbahnministerium im  Einvernehmen mit dem k. k. Handelsministerium. 1901. Page 966.</ref><ref name="SocCFD">[https://rue_du_petit_train.pagesperso-orange.fr/lignes/nordest/CFD-voie-etroite-ardennes.htm ''Société des CFD à voie étroite des Ardennes.'']</ref>
The narrow-gauge section from Juniville to Vouziers was put into service on 25 November 1906. The narrow-gauge line was converted to metre gauge in 1924.<ref name="SocCFD" />  It was operated until 1933.<ref>[https://www.facs-patrimoine-ferroviaire.fr/histoire/les-chemins-de-fer-secondaires/liste/08 ''List of the chemins de fer secondaires.'']</ref>
{{stack|{{Multiple image|perrow=2/3/2|total_width = 400
| image1            =  Menck & Hambrock Dampf-Schaufelbagger und Motorlokomotive einer militätrischen Feldbahn bei Semide und Le Châtelet-sur-Retourne während des Ersten Weltkriegs.jpg
| caption1          = Menck & Hambrock [[steam shovel]] und Oberursel internal combustion engine locomotive near Semide
| image2            = Deutsche Feldbahn der Eisenbahn-Pionier-Kompanie 13 im Einschnitt bei Le Châtelet im Ersten Weltkrieg (retuschiert).jpg
| caption2          = German 600-mm-gauge railway of Railway Pioneer Company 13 in the cutting near Le Châtelet
| image3            = Der Lorenzug der Eisenbahn-Pionier-Kompanie 13 im Einschnitt bei Le Châtelet im Ersten Weltkrieg.jpg
| caption3          = Train with a rake of V-skip trucks operated by the German Railway Pioneer Company 13 near Le Châtelet
| image4            = Deutsche Eisenbahn-Pionier-Kompanie 13 an der Eisenbahn-Unterführung an der Abzweigung der Militärbahn bei Le Chatelet in Frankreich während des Ersten Weltkriegs 01.jpg
| caption4          = German Rail&shy;way Pioneer Company 13 near Le Châtelet
| image5            = Anfangspunkt der während des Ersten Weltkriegs von der Deutschen Eisenbahn-Pionier-Kompanie 13 errichteten Militärbahn bei Le Chatelet in Frankreich.jpg
| caption5          = Starting point of the military railway constructed by the German Railway Pioneer Company 13 near Le Châtelet
| image6            = Deutsche Lokomotive im Gelände-Einschnitt während des Einsatzes der Deutschen Eisenbahn-Pionier-Kompanie 13 bei Le Chatelet in Frankreich.jpg
| caption6          = German standard gauge locomotive in the cutting near Le Châtelet
| image7            = Deutscher Militäreisenbahn-Bahnhof bei Semide in Frankreich, im 1. Weltkrieg errichtet von der Eisenbahn-Pionier-Kompanie 13.jpg
| caption7          = German military railway station near Semide
| footer            = <!-- footer text -->
}}}}
=== German military railway ===
During [[World War I]], the German forces built a [[standard gauge]] [[military railway]] in the area.<ref>David Murzyn: [https://semide-1916-2016.webnode.fr/voie-ferree/ ''La voie ferrée de Vouziers à Semide.'']</ref> It was ceremonially put into operation by the German troops in Machault on 3 May 1916. Among other things, it was used to transport the German naval gun [[38 cm SK L/45 "Max"|"Langer Max" (38-cm SK-L/45)]] to its installation site {{convert|2|km|mi|sigfig=2}} southeast of Semide.<ref name="Schweitzer"/> The re-routing required extensive earthworks with deep and long cuts and high embankments, which German soldiers carried out with the help of an [[Motorenfabrik Oberursel|Oberursel]] [[benzene]] locomotive as well as with dump truck trains loaded by hand and by a [[Menck|Menck & Hambrock]] steam shovel excavator. The light railway used by the Bavarian Reserve Railway Construction Company 1 and the Railway Pioneer Company 13 during the construction work had a track gauge of {{track gauge|600 mm|lk=on}}.
=== Langer Max ===
{{Multiple image|total_width = 600
| image1            = A Semide - La 'Grosse Bertha' était-elle une 'Bertha' (René Rousseau de Mont-Saint-Martin).jpg
| image2            = Semide-encuvement2.jpg
| image3            =  Langer Max, Stellung Semide 03 15.jpg
| footer            = German naval gun [[38 cm SK L/45 "Max"|"Langer Max" (38-cm SK-L/45)]] {{convert|2|km|mi|sigfig=2}} southeast of Semide
}}
The construction of a new position for the naval gun "Langer Max" began in March 1916. The Chief of Staff of the 3rd Army, [[Colonel]] [[Fritz von Lossberg]] reported to the Supreme Army Command ([[Oberste Heeresleitung|''Oberste Heeresleitung, O.H.L.'']]) on 19 May 1916 that the gun would be ready for action near Semide from 22 May 1916. It was to be used to fire at two railway junctions at a suitable time without revealing the top secret location of the well camouflaged gun too early. In August 1916, the 3rd Army received 25 rounds of 38-cm ammunition by order of the Supreme Army Command.
As ordered by the 3rd Army Chief of Staff, [[Martin von Oldershausen|Martin Freiherr von Oldershausen]] on 3 November 1916, the gun fired 15 shells at the [[Wye (rail)|triangular junction]] near [[Saint-Hilaire-au-Temple]], some {{convert|35|km|mi|sigfig=1}} to the southwest, on 10 November 1916. According to French accounts, there was no significant damage to property and no casualties. On 11 and 15 November 1916, [[Sainte-Menehould]] was shelled with the remaining 10 shells, reportedly resulting in several wounded.<ref name="Schweitzer"/>
== Stations ==
{| class="wikitable"
! Station !! Photo !! Comment
|-
| [[Le Châtelet-sur-Retourne]] || [[File:Les Ardennes devastees - Le Châtelet-sur-Retourne - La Gare provisionaire (A. Wilmet, phot.-edit., Rethel).jpg|150px]] || Temporary station building after the destruction of the original building in the First World War.
|-
| [[Neuflize]] || [[File:Neuflize (Ardennes) - La Gare.jpg|150px]] ||
|-
| [[Alincourt]] || [[File:Alaincourt Gare 1.jpg|150px]] ||
|-
| [[Juniville]] || [[File:Juniville (Ardennes) - La Gare (A. Wilmet, phot.-edit., Rethel).jpg|150px]] ||
|-
| [[Bignicourt]] ||  ||
|-
| [[Ville-sur-Retourne]] ||  ||
|-
| [[Pauvres]] || [[File:Pauvres (Ardennes) - La Gare (A. Wilmet, phot.-edit., Rethel).jpg|150px]] ||
|-
| [[Mont-Saint-Remy]] ||  ||
|-
| [[Machault, Ardennes|Machault]] || [[File:Machault (Ardennes) - Les trains et la gare des chemins de fer départementaux.jpg|150px]] ||
|-
| [[Semide]] || [[File:Gare de Semide, 1916.jpg|150px]] ||
|-
| [[Contreuve]] || [[File:Der deutsche Bahnhof von Contreuve während des Ersten Weltkriegs 1914-1918. Im Vordergrund die Normalspurbahn mit 1435 mm Spurweite und im Hintergrund wohl eine Feldbahn mit 600 mm Spurweite (Sammlung David Murzyn).jpg|150px]] || The German station of Contreuve: In the foreground the standard gauge railway with 1435 mm gauge and in the background probably a light railway with 600 mm gauge.
|-
| [[Sugny]] ||  ||
|-
| [[Sainte-Marie, Ardennes|Sainte-Marie]] ||  ||
|-
| [[Vouziers]]-Marizy || [[File:Vouziers - Marizy et Sucrerie (Cliche Valentin).jpg|150px]] ||
|-
| |[[Vouziers]] || [[File:Vouziers-FR-08-gare-a3.jpg|150px]] ||
|}
== References ==
<references />
== External links ==
{{Commonscat|Le Châtelet–Vouziers line|audio=0|video=0}}
* [https://www.charbogne-infos.fr/index.php?preview=1&option=com_dropfiles&format=&task=frontfile.download&catid=38&id=227&Itemid=1000000000000 ''La petite gare de Charbogne et les autres du réseau secondaire des Ardennes.''] With many photos.
{{coord|49.418521313914866|4.280110668920954|region:FR_type:building|display=title|name=Bahnhof Le Châtelet-sur-Retourne}}
[[Category:Railway lines in Grand Est]]
[[Category:Railway lines in Hauts-de-France]]
[[Category:Military railways]]
[[Category:600 mm gauge railways in France]]
[[Category:800 mm gauge railways]]
[[Category:Metre gauge railways in France]]
[[Category:Standard gauge railways in France]]
[[Category:Chemins de fer départementaux des Ardennes]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Le Châtelet-sur-Retourne-Juniville-Vouziers railway line}}