Sprague-Thomson
Encyclopedia
Sprague-Thomson is the name of the first rolling stock
on the Paris Métro
made completely of metal.
of 1903, the Compagnie du chemin de fer métropolitain de Paris
(CMP) searched for a rolling stock
that was both durable and safe. The Thomson Multiple stock was the most adopted at the time, but was complex. At the same time, the American Sprague
stock did not fit the requirements.
Certain grande loge motors were regrouped into sets of two in order to form work trains with two compartments. These were first painted gray, but later repainted yellow. The arrival of the TMA material in the 1980s and the TME material in the 2000s allowed for many of these motors to be retired. A project to convert some MF 67
cars running between depots is in progress to replace the Sprague trains that are currently dedicated to this task. The last Sprague tractors are planned to be replaced by 2010. The T.74, T.91 and T.94 models are preserved by the ADEMAS association and the T.95 model is preserved by the RATP.
resulted in the retirement of many Sprague trains, many of which were turned into maintenance trains. The same replacement occurred on line 1
in 1963 and line 4
in 1967.
rolling stock on line 3
in 1968 accelerated the replacement of the Sprague. The MF 67 stock was first introduced on line 7 and then on many other lines. In 1975, lines Paris Métro Line 2
, 3bis
, 5
, 7bis
and 12
were serviced entirely by Sprague trains and lines 8
, 9
, and 10
were serviced partially by those trains. The last two-motor engines were removed from 2
in 1976. The Nord-Sud had been entirely eliminated by 1972.
The arrival of the MF 77
accelerated the removal of Sprague trains which by that time were found only on line 9. By 1982 they had virtually been entirely retired, however the flooding of the station Église de Pantin
put a number of MF 67 trains out of service. As a result, line 5 borrowed stock from line 9, and the Sprague was active again. The last four Sprague trains of line 9 stopped service on April 16, 1983 after 75 years of service. The last trains in service were yellow, however it is possible that certain trains from 1908-1910 had circulated 65 years.
Three cars (two second class with their engine and one first class) were classified as historical monuments on December 18, 1998. Another car, a second class multiple unit
is preserved at the Vaugirard depot.
Rolling stock
Rolling stock comprises all the vehicles that move on a railway. It usually includes both powered and unpowered vehicles, for example locomotives, railroad cars, coaches and wagons...
on the Paris Métro
Paris Métro
The Paris Métro or Métropolitain is the rapid transit metro system in Paris, France. It has become a symbol of the city, noted for its density within the city limits and its uniform architecture influenced by Art Nouveau. The network's sixteen lines are mostly underground and run to 214 km ...
made completely of metal.
Research before 1908
In light of the Paris Métro train fireParis Metro train fire
The disastrous Paris Métro train fire occurred on the evening of August 10, 1903, on what was then Line 2 Nord of the system and is now Line 2...
of 1903, the Compagnie du chemin de fer métropolitain de Paris
Compagnie du chemin de fer métropolitain de Paris
The Compagnie du chemin de fer métropolitain de Paris , or CMP, was the forerunner of the RATP, the company managing the Parisian subway.- Origin :...
(CMP) searched for a rolling stock
Rolling stock
Rolling stock comprises all the vehicles that move on a railway. It usually includes both powered and unpowered vehicles, for example locomotives, railroad cars, coaches and wagons...
that was both durable and safe. The Thomson Multiple stock was the most adopted at the time, but was complex. At the same time, the American Sprague
Frank J. Sprague
Frank Julian Sprague was an American naval officer and inventor who contributed to the development of the electric motor, electric railways, and electric elevators...
stock did not fit the requirements.
Two motors
The Sprague-Thomson was conceived in 1908 by the synthesis of already-existing systems. Beginning in 1907, the CMP was constructing metallic stock. The motrices 500 formed the first series of Sprague-Thomson, which was referred to familiarly as simply "Sprague". The cars were constructed entirely of metal and consisted of two motors. One train set consisted of five cars and three motors, and contained a large compartment of electrical components, referred to as a grande loge. After World War I, the motors were improved so that the electrical components did not take up so much space and thus were called petites loges.Certain grande loge motors were regrouped into sets of two in order to form work trains with two compartments. These were first painted gray, but later repainted yellow. The arrival of the TMA material in the 1980s and the TME material in the 2000s allowed for many of these motors to be retired. A project to convert some MF 67
MF 67
The MF 67 is a steel-wheel variant of electric multiple units used on Paris's Métro system. It is the most common Paris Metro rolling stock variant, being used on Lines 2, 3, 3bis, 5, 9, 10 and 12...
cars running between depots is in progress to replace the Sprague trains that are currently dedicated to this task. The last Sprague tractors are planned to be replaced by 2010. The T.74, T.91 and T.94 models are preserved by the ADEMAS association and the T.95 model is preserved by the RATP.
"Nord-Sud" engines
The Compagnie du Nord-Sud began construction in 1910 of a new type of Sprague, with four motors and two engines per train instead of three. They are painted gray and blue, unlike the dark green color of those of the CMP.Engines with four motors
Little by little the cars have been elongated, from their initial length of 12.6 metres (13.8 yd) to 14.2 metres (15.5 yd). Engines with four motors were first used in 1927 and are all 14.2 metres (15.5 yd) long. The color (dark green, light green, and bluish gray) has varied over time, as well as the number of doors (from three to four). The first class cars are red on the CMP network, and yellow on the Nord-Sud. Some cars are colored half green and half red. The classic chassis contains two engines with four motors, powering three cars with the middle one being first class. Engines with four motors began use in 1936, some being older models reconstructed but practically identical to the new ones.Decline
In 1956, the installation of chassis with tires on line 11Paris Metro Line 11
Paris Métro Line 11 is one of 16 Paris métro lines. It links Les Lilas in the North East of the city to Châtelet in the center of Paris. It is the shortest of the 14 metro lines having independent management...
resulted in the retirement of many Sprague trains, many of which were turned into maintenance trains. The same replacement occurred on line 1
Paris Metro Line 1
Paris Métro Line 1 is one of the sixteen lines composing the Paris Métro . It connects the La Défense – Grande Arche and Château de Vincennes stations. With a 16.5 km length, it constitutes an "East-West" route transportation important for the City of Paris...
in 1963 and line 4
Paris Metro Line 4
Line 4 is one of the sixteen lines of the Paris Métro rapid transit system. Situated entirely within the boundaries of the City of Paris, it connects Porte de Clignancourt in the north and Porte d'Orléans in the south, travelling across the heart of the city. As a result, it is sometimes called...
in 1967.
End of the model
The introduction of the MF 67MF 67
The MF 67 is a steel-wheel variant of electric multiple units used on Paris's Métro system. It is the most common Paris Metro rolling stock variant, being used on Lines 2, 3, 3bis, 5, 9, 10 and 12...
rolling stock on line 3
Paris Metro Line 3
Line 3 is one of the sixteen lines of the Paris Métro rapid transit system in Paris, France. Connecting Pont de Levallois - Bécon station in the near western suburbs to Gallieni in the east, the location of Paris' international bus station...
in 1968 accelerated the replacement of the Sprague. The MF 67 stock was first introduced on line 7 and then on many other lines. In 1975, lines Paris Métro Line 2
Paris Metro Line 2
Line 2 is one of the sixteen lines of the Paris Métro rapid transit system in Paris, France. Situated almost entirely above the former city walls , it runs in a semi-circle in the north of Paris....
, 3bis
Paris Metro Line 3bis
Paris Métro Line 3bis is one of the sixteen lines composing the Paris Métro . It connects the Gambetta and Porte des Lilas stations in the 20th arrondissement of Paris . With a length of and only four stations, the line is the shortest in the network...
, 5
Paris Metro Line 5
Paris Métro Line 5 is one of the 16 metro lines built in Paris, France. It crosses the east of Paris from Bobigny to Place d'Italie. It is the eighth busiest line on the network....
, 7bis
Paris Metro Line 7bis
Paris Métro Line 7bis is the second shortest line of the metro operating in Paris, France. It serves the 19th and 20th arrondissements in the North East of the city.-Chronology:...
and 12
Paris Metro Line 12
Paris Métro Line 12 is one of sixteen metro lines in Paris, France. It links Issy-les-Moulineaux in southern Paris to Porte de la Chapelle in the north. With 72 million journeys per year, Line 12 is the eleventh busiest on the Parisian Métropolitan system...
were serviced entirely by Sprague trains and lines 8
Paris Metro Line 8
Paris Métro Line 8 is one of 16 metro lines in Paris, France. It connects the Balard station in southwestern Paris, to Créteil – Préfecture station in Créteil, a town south-east of the French capital, following a parabolic route on the right bank of Seine River...
, 9
Paris Metro Line 9
Paris Métro Line 9 is one of 16 lines of the Paris Métro. The line links Pont de Sèvres in Boulogne in the west with Montreuil in the east. It is the fourth busiest line on the network....
, and 10
Paris Metro Line 10
Paris Métro Line 10 is one of 16 metro lines in Paris, France. The line links the Boulogne – Pont de Saint Cloud metro station in Boulogne in the west with the Gare d'Austerlitz, travelling under the neighborhoods situated on the Rive Gauche in the southern half of Paris and the commune of...
were serviced partially by those trains. The last two-motor engines were removed from 2
Paris Metro Line 2
Line 2 is one of the sixteen lines of the Paris Métro rapid transit system in Paris, France. Situated almost entirely above the former city walls , it runs in a semi-circle in the north of Paris....
in 1976. The Nord-Sud had been entirely eliminated by 1972.
The arrival of the MF 77
MF 77
The MF 77 is a steel-wheeled variant of the rolling stock used on the Paris Métro. First used in 1978, it now runs on Lines 7, 8, and 13....
accelerated the removal of Sprague trains which by that time were found only on line 9. By 1982 they had virtually been entirely retired, however the flooding of the station Église de Pantin
Église de Pantin (Paris Metro)
Église de Pantin is a station of the Paris Métro, serving Line 5.The name refers to the nearby Église Saint-Germain of the town of Pantin.This station was the terminus of Line 5 from 1942 to 1985....
put a number of MF 67 trains out of service. As a result, line 5 borrowed stock from line 9, and the Sprague was active again. The last four Sprague trains of line 9 stopped service on April 16, 1983 after 75 years of service. The last trains in service were yellow, however it is possible that certain trains from 1908-1910 had circulated 65 years.
Legacy
The RATP has conserved three Sprague trains, however only one is usable by passengers. From time to time it is exhibited on certain lines and by organizations such as (ADEMAS, COPEF). A number of cars are in museums and those serving as maintenance trains are approaching the age of 100.Three cars (two second class with their engine and one first class) were classified as historical monuments on December 18, 1998. Another car, a second class multiple unit
Multiple unit
The term multiple unit or MU is used to describe a self-propelled carriages capable of coupling with other units of the same or similar type and still being controlled from one driving cab. The term is commonly used to denote passenger trainsets consisting of more than one carriage...
is preserved at the Vaugirard depot.