Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Train exhibit


Ladies and gentlemen, you're presently looking at the first high speed locomotive France ever produced: the famous BB 9004, which, in 1955, broke the fabulous record of 331 Km/h (206 mph). Of course compared to the 575 Km/h (357 mph) of the TGV (bullet train) it's nothing, but considering it took place 52 years ago... Anyway, the reason why I shot this locomotive in the middle of the street is that next week; the French Railway Company (SNCF) will celebrate its 70th anniversary with a huge exhibition in Le Grand Palais. I'll try to go and take a few pics.

14 comments:

  1. That is a beeyootiful train engine. I love the porthole windows and rather art deco design. The color will look great surrounded by the green steel in the Grand Palais.

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  2. Very cool retro train. I also love the round windows.

    I just caught up on yesterday's posts. Congrats to Michael for all the PDP merchandising - please keep it up (Eric, I hope you got my e-mail in response to your's).

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  3. I just love old trains, actually I just love trains. A great picture and I look forward to your photos of the exhibition!

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  4. Beautiful train. Looks a little like an old Volkswagen Bus!

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  5. The train is cute, amazing how different they look now! I'm sure you'll be there at the exhibition to show us more Eric, as I'm sure you'll end up spotting Sarkozy plus his new girlfriend one of this days.
    You seem to be everywhere!

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  6. Thought is was a double decker on the preview..NOT>.!!Hello from West Sacramento

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  7. Cool pic, neat story, looking forward to the rest of it.

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  8. Very nice indeed. I remember reading something about this train the last time I was in Paris. Where was it located before going to Le Grand Palais?

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  9. Oh, qu'elle est belle!!! Ca, c'est de la locomotive!

    Can't wait to see the pictures you're gonna bring back from the Grand Palais! (don't forget to photograph la verriere ;)

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  10. That old engine is still faster than anything we've got in the UK now! Our railways are a disgrace.

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  11. I won't even start to tell the horrors of passenger trains in the USA, the French were 50 years ahead of us 50 years ago. Great shot of a great train.

    David

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  12. haha yes! send it over to the UK! I think our fastest trains travel at 125 mph, well excluding the eurostar/lgv, and hey, it only took 13 additional years to finish that!!

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  13. Loco, loco, locomotive... Je me disais bien que cette photo me rappelait une chanson!

    Locomotive d'or,
    Aussi riche en pistons,
    Aussi chargée d'essieux
    Que de siècles un sépulcre,
    Locomotive d'or,
    Croqueuse d'un charbon
    Plus fruité, plus juteux
    Que l'est la canne à sucre,
    Locomotive d'or,
    Tchi ki kou tchi ki kou
    Sans un soupçon de suie,
    Sans une ombre de lucre,
    Tu me fis visiter
    Tes Congo, tes Gabon
    Tes Oubangui-Chari,
    Et tes Côte-d'Ivoire,
    Où de blancs éléphants
    M'aspergeaient de mémoire,
    Locomotive d'or
    Tchi ki kou tchi ki kou
    Locomotive d'or
    Ka kan ka kan ka kan

    Je reluquais le rail,
    Assis sur ma valoche
    Et l'horloge vaquait
    Dans l'espace vaquant
    Le silence avouait
    Quelque chose qui cloche
    Quand soudain retentit
    La clameur de Tarzan
    Quand soudain j'entendis
    Un autre son de cloche,
    Tu arrivais enfin
    Du fond du cœur du temps,
    Tes plumes de vapeur
    Sur ta face de tigre,
    Tes faisceaux de sagaies,
    Tes boucliers de cuivre
    Locomotive d'or
    Ka kan ka kan ka kan

    Locomotive d'or,
    De bondir à ton bord
    Me donna même joie
    Qu'au sexe de la femme
    Mon corps ne m'aidait plus
    Qu'à survoler mon corps,
    Ma chair devint esprit
    Et mon âme tam-tam
    Oui, oui, tam-tam d'âme,
    Partout dedans! Dehors!
    Et de toutes ses dents,
    Succulente banane,
    Kenny Clarke riait
    Comme un enfant s'endort
    Comme un enfant s'endort
    Ayant vu un miracle,
    Comme un enfant s'endort
    Dans l'œuf ailé de Pâques
    Dans l'amour tournoyant,
    Locomotive d'or...

    Tout le monde va descendre
    Dans la gare divine,
    Dans la gare divine
    Le chef de gare est aimé,
    Dans la gare divine
    La locomotive d'or
    Va souffler
    Comme un enfant s'endort
    La locomotive d'or
    Comme un enfant s'endort
    La locomotive d'or...

    (Locomotive d'or, Claude Nougaro, 1973)

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