page_title: Chemin de Fer d'Anvin à Calais
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Chemin de Fer d'Anvin à Calais / History
caption_attribution_description: Locotracteur diesel à voie métrique N°351. Photo prise gare de Saint-Valery-sur-Somme
context_page_description: The Chemin de Fer d'Anvin à Calais was a 1,000 mm metre gauge railway from Calais to Anvin, in the Pas-de-Calais department of France. It opened in 1881 and closed in 1955.
context_section_description: In 1874, M. Émile Level proposed to build a railway from Calais to Anvin, Pas-de-Calais. Following the usual procedure, hearings in public would have been held before the proposed railway would have been declared to be of utilité publique (in the public interest) and permission granted to construct the line. The CF AC was the first line in Pas-de-Calais constructed under the Plan Freyciney. Anvin and Calais are 62 kilometres (38.53 mi) apart, but the railway was to be much longer due to the need to avoid heavy engineering and also to serve local communities. The line had a maximum gradient of 17mm/metre and curves of 100 metres (330 ft) minimum radius. In part, it ran through what is now the Parc naturel régional des Caps et Marais d'Opale, crossing many river valleys and having summits of 131 metres (430 ft) between Équirre and Verchin, and 177 metres (581 ft) at Alques-Buisson halte.
  Construction started from Anvin and Calais at the same time. the first section, from Calais Saint-Pierre to Guînes opened on 1 October 1881. Anvin to Fruges opened on 1 January 1881, followed by Fruges to Lumbres on 1 April. Guînes to Ardres on 1 July and Lumbres to Ardres on 10 August, giving the line a length of 94 kilometres (58.41 mi). A final 1 kilometre (1,100 yd) extension from Calais Saint-Pierre to Calais-Ville was made in 1900, which enabled the closure of Saint-Pierre station.
  The line cost an average of ₣77,000 per kilometre to build. Rails were Vignole rails, 20 kilograms per metre (40 lb/yd) laid on oak sleepers. Wherever possible, earthworks were kept to a minimum, although the highest embankment was 9.53 metres (31 ft 3 in) and the deepest cutting was 8.14 metres (26 ft 8 in). Almost all road crossings were on the level. There were seven bridges and 161 level crossings. Most of the curves were greater than 130 metres (430 ft) radius, except for those at Lumbres and Fruges. Crossings with the CF du Nord railways were also on the level.
  On 3 December 1882, a party of senators and deputies of the National Assembly spent the day inspecting the railway. In 1891, the CF du ARB opened, connecting with the CF AC at Gourgesson and Rimeux-Gournay. By 1893, both systems were being run interchangeably, with locomotives and stock from one line being used on the other.
  In 1902, the TvAPA was opened between Ardres and Pont d'Ardres. Serving Messrs Sat et Compagnie's sugar refinery at Pont d'Ardres, it was operated by the CF AC.
  In 1906, it was recommended that an arrêt be provided at Berthem, where there was a sand quarry. The commune offered to finance it, but the CF AC did not want to provide a stop. The department authorities stated that the CF AC could not be forced to provide a station and the matter dropped. The CF AC carried 720,474 passengers in 1911.
  The CF AC remained behind Allied lines during World War I. A major British Army base was established at Calais in 1915. Most of the CF AC fell within a security zone known as the Reserved Zone. Civilians living within this zone had free travel within the Canton in which they lived. To travel beyond their or Canton, or in and out of the Reserved Zone, a sauf-conduit (identity card) was required. Civilian passengers had to leave their train and go into the station building to have their papers checked when crossing Cantons. A procedure which led to complaints as some passengers missed their train when it departed whilst their papers were being checked. Military personnel had their papers checked on board the train. Services were reduced in frequency, with military  and freight traffic taking priority.
  In 1917, a major supply camp was established at Vendroux, occupying land between the CF AC and adjacent CF du Nord lines between Coulogne and Écluse-Carrée, and the Canal de Guînes. In 1918, facilities were provided to allow for the transhipment of timber between the CF AC and CF du Nord just north of Écluse-Carrée. The timber was brought in from Balinghem. The railway in this area was made dual gauge with Standard gauge for 1.7 kilometres (1.06 mi) from the Calais end to Vendroux. During
caption: Locomotive No. 351, built at Lumbres in 1948.
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