Small story of the « Tacot »

THE SMALL HISTORY OF THE TACOT
The line was to be opened for operation on Monday 26 August 1907, yet a few days had been required for a certain « rodage »
For this reason, the official inauguration was scheduled for Sunday, September 8.
In front of a large crowd, train 362 coming from Argent, expected at Vailly station on Sauldre at 6:30 a.m., arrived a few minutes late and will find it difficult to get started. « at dock », despite the vigilance of the Chief of Station and his deputy to evacuate the track.
The train showed « complete », drunk by the officials and their guests, also by some travellers, who out of pride, wanted to be among the first passengers.
To celebrate this important event, at an early age we began to drink at the Café de la Gare submerged, as well as at the two drinks placed against the siding, well supplied with various drinks, snacks and cakes.
The band, a parquet ball, a shooting and children's games had been installed to the ramps to the docks. The ball was supposed to open at 3 o'clock in the afternoon.
The ladies had put on their most beautiful toilet, almost all wearing hats or capeline. When the gentlemen, it must be admitted that they were not left behind.
An official, Mr. General, standing on the rear platform of the first-class car, hat melon on the head, lorgnon on the tip of the nose, greeted Mayor Roy, his Council, and the crowd in tears. He'll make a little speech that no one can hear in this fuzz. He will still be loudly applauded.
The judgment was of short duration. Whistling of the Chief of Station, spitting of the machine dropping through his chimney a huge black smoke, the train slowly shook accompanied for a moment by the children's leaps of joy.
There he is! There he is! It was train 363 of 9:30 from Veaugues that arrived at the station.
He was also driving « complete », but paid passengers, who were acting like half-way puppets out of open windows of cars.
A little madness!
Some, arriving at their destination, enchanted by their short journey, will jump on the dock. Others, very excited, will almost climb the steps of access to a railway car for the first time. They were « Get on the train! »
The departure, heading for Silver on Sauldre, did not wait. Once given, the place was somewhat vitiated. Many people had come to spend the day there.
While waiting for the opening of the ball, shooting and games, as well as the return of the two trains, episodicly the band performed some of its most beautiful pieces.
Families, groups of friends, had temporarily returned to the town's bistros and inns, forming with the station, an incessant one goes and comes.
In this hustle and bustle, everyone went with his little comment. On the constant drooping of the engine drooping with grease and water, by this way, a few small jets of steam.
On his driving station, on cars and their comfort, on speed (...)
On the huge well, the reservoir and its intake, on the operation of a switch...
When we walk around, « visited » the station manager's office, the departure room, the waiting room, the freight hall, the places of rest.
Later, at the end of the station, a first-class car, one second where one could ride. Three freight cars (tombereau, platter, lightning) and even the rake used by the cantoners for track maintenance and monitoring. Rolling stock specially installed on the garage track.
The return of the two crowded trains coming from their respective directions, arrived at full time, enthralled the bastards again. It was only around 10 o'clock in the evening, when the ball's flufflons were silent, that there was no more to drink or to eat, that the Gare de Vailly sur Sauldre regained its calm.
Very quickly, this economical railway will be nicknamed by the users of the « Tacot » and in the coming months would become a real case of society.
At that time, in the towns and especially in our countryside, few people had crossed the « borders » our neighbouring cantons, except to go to the major fairs of the moment, the St. Michel in Cosne sur Loire, to the courses of Gien or Bonny sur Loire; mid-career in Aubigny s/Nère or the Beaux Marchés de Sancerre.
Travels made, either on foot, bicycle, but mainly by horse car.
Then came the « Tacotmania ».
As early as spring, Sundays and holidays on « Tacot » was stormed throughout his journey by a new generation of walkers « who took the train »either alone, as a couple or as a family.
Sometimes, for some, take the departure to Vailly sur Sauldre, to go down to Thou or Conressault and then just walk back!...
For others, a wicker basket well stocked under the arm, went picnic (to be in the wind!) at the Boucard castle, near the station of Moulin-Jamet, in Sancerrois after correspondence.
Where again, on the banks of the Sauldre, on the Blancafort Canal, in the park of the Castle of Silver on Sauldre or at the Pond du Puits, after being taken over by a coachman who made the connection with a four-wheeled car. All these « Passengers » The same night the trains returned.
The Tacot will make its last trip on July 1, 1951.
(*) After notes the notes taken on the same day and by the oral transmission of the elders. (Brochure « Souvenirs in Pays-Fort » published by the Association)