French narrow gauge

Continuing the French narrow gauge theme, a tramway locomotive recently arrived on the H&DLR. Now these have a simple 0-4-0 chassis, with pickup skates, which is similar to the Stainz chassis. Experience suggests that on the H&DLR's track, short wheelbase locomotives can struggle to maintain pickup, especially through the older LGB R3 pointwork.

As the locomotive has a lighting connection on the rear, this can be used to feed power in, for example from a pickup van. A number of pickup vans already exist on the railway, but one suited to the operation of the Tramways des Deux Sèvres train seemed in order.

The newly arrived Côtes du Nord van has been modified with pickup wheels and a socket to provide this for the tram.

The general hope is that it looks something like a Blanc Misseron tramway engine, a type that were in widespread use on the minor secondary railways of the Deux Sèvres and Vienne départements.