The Yellow Train of the Pyrenees (Train Jaune)

Pat had long had a trip on the Train Jaune on her list of things to do.  Recently, we spotted a 2 day tour and we were available - it was just too convenient.  We crossed our fingers and hoped for a clear day.

We picked up the coach in Beziers which then drove down to the coast to pick up a group of people and continued on our way to the train, stopping briefly for breakfast, then continuing on tp the small train station.

The Train Jaune is a pat of the french national railways, but is a metre gauge with a third rail.

The train was full, but we were happy to stand on the little platform outside and take photos.

When we reached Olette, we were delayed for some time because a train travelling in the opposite direction on the single track line had broken down.  Eventually it arrived and we were able to continue.

The train has been running for over a hundred years and the majority of the carriages, including the one that we were in, are original.

We set off a little late from Villefranche de Conflient which has a walled city.  This is Fort Libera.

 Initially, there were woods and streams all  around us

We arrived at Olette where we waited for another train to descend before we could continue.  After some time, it arrived and we set off, climbing now.

We continued above the valley and looking down on the cars

 Over viaducts

We reached our station and there was our bus waiting for us at Odello Font Romau to take us to our hotel at Mont Louis.  After checking in and eating lunch. we went to see the citadel, an active military fort.

On the following day, we went to Andora in the bus.  We had been to Andora many years ago, but had not approached it from the French side, so this was a new experience.

It was a long drive along roads that are narrow at times, so a bus and a lorry as rather close for comfort.

We were not long in the town of Andorra, but did manage a few photos.

On the third day, we returned to France, travelling along the route of the Yellow Train, but by road this time.  For much of the time, we could see the track and the route that we had taken.

We stopped at Les Grottes des Canalettes:

Later, we comtinued to Villefranche de Conflent where we had a little time to look around before lunch.

Finally, we stopped at a garnet factory, where we bought a souvenir of the trip.

Now we are back at home for just over two weeks.