Tram Station in Oradour-sur-Glane
The tram station, shown in the photo
above, is located in the Upper Town of Oradour-sur-Glane on the
Rue de Emile Desourtaux. Five trams a day ran in each direction
from Limoges to St. Junien with a stop in Oradour-sur-Glane;
the trip took about an hour.The whole town would go to the station
to meet the tram. This was common in those by-gone days, even
in small towns in America. Meeting the train was a social event.
Even if you weren't expecting anyone to arrive on the train to
visit you, it was still the custom to go to the station to see
who was coming or going. This was a time to exchange gossip and
a place for courtship where the young people would meet each
other.
The photo above shows the goods staton
with the passenger station on the far right. Notice the wall
in the background on the left, which encloses the ruins, and
the new buildings beyond the wall.
The photo above shows an old train switching
device beside the tram tracks. This was used for switching the
tracks so that the train could pull up to the station.
The photo above shows the overhead tram
lines, which are still in pristine condition. They were installed
in 1911. Electricity for the whole town came from the electrical
wires of the tram.
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