September 12 – Steam Train along the Doux River

Last night the boat docked at the small town of Tournon.  This morning we headed out for a short bus ride to take us to the steam train station for the Train de L’Ardéche ride into the mountains.  The carriages are open on both sides so we certainly got a lot of small particles from the train’s coal powered locomotive on our clothes. 

The train follows the pretty Doux River gorge for a ways up into the mountains…

before we came to a large roundabout to turn around.  The engine decoupled from the train and pulled into the roundabout and one man pushed the 40+ train engine around by himself.  Wow!

Then the train pulled out, headed the opposite direction, backed up to the carriages and we were back on our way to town. 

The afternoon was spent enjoying the cruise up the Rhone and visiting with other guest on the ship.  A nice, relaxing way to spend the afternoon.   

We went through several locks on this trip.  Here is one of them.

Going into the lock:

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Video of going into lock
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In the lock, closing the rear gate, filling the lock, opening the front gate, and exiting the lock:

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Video of in lock and out
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We arrived in the town of Vienne in the late afternoon.  

We decided to wander into town and also had dinner there.  And stopped at an ice cream shop for sundaes.