The Tramway of Quend-Plage and Fort-Mahon (French: le tramway de Quend-Plage et Fort-Mahon or le tramway du Marquenterre) was a 12.8 km (8.0 mi) long 600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in) gauge railway line, which operated from 1898-1914 and 1921-1934.
History
Station at Fort-Mahon-Plage
The Société Immobilière de Saint-Quentin-Plage built the 8 km (5.0 mi) long narrow-gauge tramway from the station Quend-Fort-Mahon to the beach at Quend-Plage (previously known as Saint-Quentin-Plage). The tramway was inaugurated in 1898. In 1903, a 4.8 km (3.0 mi) long branch line was built to the beach at Fort-Mahon-Plage. A single journey from Quend-Fort-Mahon to Quend-Plage lasted 30 min, and to Fort-Mahon-Plage it lasted 40 min.
In 1914, the portable pieces of track with a rail weight of 9.5 to 15 kg/m (19 to 30 lb/yd) were lifted to be used during World War I and re-laid in 1919. The tramway was re-commissioned on 13 Juli 1921. The tramway was used until May 1932 and formally closed on 26. February 1934.
Initially, two open Decauville summer cars, one Decauville saloon car and three V-skip trucks were used.
Remarks
^The Société Immobilière de Saint-Quentin-Plage was set-up in 1893 by Félix Martin under the name of Goutelon et Compagnie in Paris. It was re-incorporated on 27 August 1896 as Société Anonyme de Quend-Plage, a PLC with a capital of 700,000 Franc with its headquarters in 47 rue Taitbout in Paris. Félix Martin and Goutelon were the main share holders.
