Rolling stock:

The rolling stock, representing some of the curiosities in the SNCF's fleet, comprises railcars and carriages.


The railcars have four motors, generating 300 h.p., and have 40 seats in a single class layout.


They are equipped with rheostatic braking, Westinghouse automatic regulated braking, both in application and release, and manual braking.
They have dual automatic couplings (LEDUC-LAMBERT system) with additional safety chains.




The towed rolling stock comprises Midi and Nord type carriages offering respectively 44 and 46 seats, and open panoramic carriages offering 59 seats.




All this rolling stock, with the exception of the locally built panoramic carriages, has been renovated on two occasions:

• Firstly, from 1963 to 1966 in the Marseilles workshops, when it was painted in red and yellow livery (Catalan colours).

• Secondly, in the Béziers workshops, the body work and the driver's cabs were completely renovated. The Catalan colours were replaced by yellow livery, enhanced with a red coach line, in harmony with the colour and the name of the Petit Train Jaune de Cerdagne.

In order to confront the difficulties of winter snow, the rolling stock fleet also comprises two snow ploughs and a snow blower for clearing snow from between the rails.

Power supply:

Traction power is provide by an 850 Volts direct current supply, via a third rail on the side of the track, attached to ceramic supports and equipped with protectors for those parts of the line frequented by the public.

The current is generated by the hydraulic power station in the Vallée de la Têt, designed for this purpose. The key element is the Barrage des Bouillouses - dam (altitude: 2,000 m) completed in 1910 with a capacity of 17,500,000 m3 and a retained water surface area of 160 ha.

The current transported, at a voltage of 20,000 volts, supplies 7 sub-stations that provide the traction current. The sub-stations are remote controlled from the Montpellier power station.

They are situated in Villefranche, Thuès-les-Bains, Fontpédrouse, Mont-Louis, Font-Romeu, Sainte-Léocardie and Bourg-Madame.


Operations:

• The authorised speed limit is 55 km/h.
• Passenger train configurations are limited to 6 vehicles.
• Line operations are managed by a controller, known as the Chef de Ligne - Line Manager, based in Villefranche.
• Crossing over and overtaking can only take places in the stations in Olette, Fontpédrouse, Mont-Louis, Font-Romeu, Saillagouse, Bourg-Madame and at the terminus in Latour de Carol.
• Services are operated all year round.