Organizers / Managers
Presentation
APPEVA was founded in 1970 to safeguard the narrow-gauge railroad line between Cappy and Dompierre (Somme). Used until 1972 by the Dompierre sugar factory, this line is the only survivor of a network of over 300 km built during the First World War to serve the front. Today, the association owns the largest collection of 60 cm gauge rolling stock preserved in its original location (38 locomotives and over 130 wagons), and operates a 7 km tourist line from Froissy to Dompierre, known as the "P'tit train de la Haute Somme". A 1,800 m² narrow-gauge railway museum was inaugurated in 1996 to showcase part of the collection, some of whose vehicles are classified as historical monuments.
In addition to the ongoing maintenance of this technical and industrial heritage, many vehicles still need to be restored to ensure their longevity as witnesses to the past.
The association welcomes schoolchildren and offers guided tours of the narrow-gauge railroad museum. The museum features numerous panels explaining the vehicles on display, as well as the evolution of narrow-gauge railroads from their invention to the present day. the association's current life, including the First World War, the reconstruction of towns and villages from 1918 to 1924, and industrial, mining and agricultural use. You can also learn how a steam locomotive works.
A teacher's guide is also available.
