How did Conliège end up in a history book between Alaska, Peru and the Himalayas?

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Despite the thousands of kilometers that separate them, how could Conliège be connected to Peruat theAlaska and even toHimalaya ? Speak train Of course ! Or more precisely, by a history book on the railways.

In An unusual history of trains – From the birth of rail to the conquest of the Himalayaspublished a few weeks ago, the author Clive Lamming looks back on more than fifty stories richly illustrated with photographs, period documents and maps, to introduce readers to the tumultuous epic of the trainits professions, its utopias and its myths, throughout the world.

And it is no coincidence that theFrench historianoriginal Britishevokes the Conliège station ; in fact, the latter, now aged 86 answas a student of Rouget de Lisle high school from Lons-le-Saunier, in the 1950s.

The “most absurd train station in the world”

And in his book, the author laughs at the situation of the Conliège station, which he considers to be “ the most absurd in the world “. Inaugurated in 1891it is part of the line linking Lons-le-Saunier to Champagnole.

Although the work for its construction was colossalwith very steep ramps and long retaining walls, the station itself is inaccessibleperched above the village on steep terrain.

The paradox is that, according to the historian, this station was built of no real use. No train really stopped to serve Conliège, but the compagnie PLM still invested in a expensive infrastructureincluding a covered goods dock with hall. The inhabitants, for their part, preferred Vicinals of Jurawhose station was located in the heart of the village.

Passenger service is suspended in 1938and freight trains stop in 1953. Today, the old line has been converted into a green route, allowing you to discover the magnificent viaducts and tunnels of the region.

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