Home»All Photograph Galleries»The Big France Takeover Part 3 - Sotteville Recession Sidings

Sotteville, Rouen, is literally an expanse of railway sheds and yards by the river, here the recession sidings are viewed, many thanks to SNCF for the visit. Just shy of 400 locomotives stored here, some awaiting overhaul at the nearby works, others await a more unclear future.

The 12 siding rows literally a sea of freight and former passenger locomotives both diesel and electric.

Classes that feature are 407, 422, 472, 466, 467, 668, 567, 167, 163, 516, 116, 607, 416, 83, 508, 85, 425, 88 to name but a few. Livery wise a huge range from the more modern FRET through to older SNCF guises.

Really not something you'd see in the UK, let alone be given permission by SNCF to photograph. Goes to show how different things are in France.

A second visit in September, should see the other 200 - mainly shunters, 40 odd electrics and 25 or so 467/567's caught up with along with any new arrivals, if luck once again comes along.