Founded in 1929 by some railway enthusiasts, the AFAC gathers people interested in the many facets of the world of railways. Our goal is to familiarize people with and support a both irreplaceable and modern means of transport, little known to the public at large.This nonprofit society has for its view that in developed countries, railways are always the foundation of a communication system. However, supporting railways (and of course railway employees) does not rule out constructive criticism. Therefore the development of individual transportation does not abolish the need for a public transportation service.
Nowadays, the AFAC consists of about 2500 members split into 12 local chapters and our Paris headquarters. We offer them a comprehensive library covering the needs of both the fan and the researcher. Our 3 large model railways (scale HO, O and I) enable members which are into modeling to make thorough use of their own models. We shouldn't forget technical tours (depots, workshops, factories, new line construction...) and travels both in France and abroad.
But according to many people, our "masterpiece" is our magazine: Chemins de Fer ("Railways") which is published every two months. Written and illustrated by AFAC members on their own, its ambition is to present the most modern fulfillment of railways without neglecting history. It also broadens its coverage to various subjects of the railway universe and tries to suggest new solutions to solve problems, in a way that may sometimes go against officials.
Thus, contrary to some beliefs, this shows that we are totally independent from SNCF (the French National Railways) and totally self-supporting.
Our members come from a very wide background and age range, and surprisingly railway employees represent only 20 % of our total number. All of them really appreciate railways.
So, joining the AFAC means participating in getting railways better known as well as improving one's own knowledge.
Chemins de Fer N°459 (1999/6)
- Éditorial : Pour un chemin de fer de qualité (2 p.)
- De la fin des grands réseaux à la fin du siècle, 60 ans d'évolution du trafic voyageurs (1) (6 p.)
- La Shore line Boston - New York (2ème partie) Origines, matériel, évolution (14 p.)
- Les antirenrayeurs, auxiliaires sophistiqués du freinage d'aujourd'hui (12 p.)
- Autour du service voyageurs de la SNCF, du 28 novembre 1999 au 27 mai 2000 (5 p.)
- Courrier des lecteurs (1 p.)
Price : 52 FF / 16,50 FS
Where may Chemins de Fer be purchased ?
Back issues (french page)
Street address :
Phone/FAX
+33 1 40 38 20 92 (French only, sorry ! Please fax instead)
Web address
http://www.railfaneurope.net/afac/index.html
| Aquitaine | Languedoc-Roussillon | Midi-Pyrénées | Suisse (GENÈVE) |
| Jacques OTTAVIANI | Jean-Pierre AUTIÉ | Henri POTARD | J.Philippe RENTSCH |
| 9, rue des Abeilles | 16, plan Mozart | 80, rue de la Sainte-Famille | 36, chemin de la Tirelonge |
| 33370 ARTIGUES près BORDEAUX | 34970 LATTES | 31200 TOULOUSE | CH 1202 ONEX |
| Auvergne | Centre-Loire | Poitou-Charentes | Suisse |
| Claude BABIN | Bernard Monteil | Bernard RENAUDOT | Georges REICHEN |
| rue Bel Air | 15, route d'Amboise | 7, rue La Fertalière | Wachstrasse 28 |
| 43100 BRIOUDE | 41400 CHISSAY-en-TOURAINE | 17137 L'HOUMEAU | CH 8134 ADLISWIL ZH |
| Bretagne | Méditerranée | Rhône-Alpes | Liban |
| Claude BERNARD | Gérard PINATEL | Alain THOZET | M. TENDJOUKIAN |
| 2, rue du Général de Gaulle | 38, rue Croix de Régnier | 26, chemin de Naive | c/o Maître Stella Sultan |
| 44290 BESLÉ sur VILAINE | 13004 MARSEILLE | 69230 ST-GENIS-LAVAL | Immeuble Sahmarani |
| Rue Kantari | |||
| B.P 13-5679 BEYROUTH |
Please E-mail us if you want more info.
