French Rail (SNCF) has always been a magnet for British rail enthusiasts to enjoy workshop, depot and yard visits together with travel by locomotive-hauled passenger trains. Until recently, permits have been made readily available for enthusiasts to visit these installations, some of which can now be reached within the hour by air and just under three hours by Eurostar.Like most countries, including the United Kingdom, many depots and yards have closed in France due to the cessation of wagon load traffic, recession and introduction of the TGV and new bi-modal passenger rolling stock. SNCF still has some extremely large but not so busy marshalling yards strategically located throughout France, where limited hump shunting is still being performed. While most of the main workshops have closed, there are still some large operational depots, including picturesque roundhouses that were favoured by SNCF for the maintenance and stabling of locomotives.Martin Bray has been taking photographs for over forty years and this fascinating selection features many of the installations of SNCF workshops, depots and yards located throughout France.
