Abandoned 160-Year-Old Parisian Railway Documented By Photographer Pierre Folk
French photographer Pierre Folk has been working on his latest project, “By the Silent Line,” since 2011, documenting the remnants of the grand Parisian railway that was abandoned more than 80 years ago. The 160-year-old, 32 km long railway, called “The Chemin de fer de Petite Ceinture,” encircled Paris during the Industrial Revolution and was used from 1852 to 1934.
The Parisian railway project became a necessity in the early 19th century, when people and goods were still horse-drawn. The newly built railway was a solid symbol of progress, and the first years of its operation already saw significant activity. However, it did not survive the fierce automobile revolution that followed or its slower friend – the underground transit system.
The land currently occupied by the vanishing railway is attracting the interest of developers and local officials, so Folk is trying to capture this historical monument before its sun sets.
More info: pierrefolk.com (h/t: colossal)
Got wisdom to pour?
Ma gare de ceinture préférée est située rue de Leibniz (18e).
Might want to check on the “abandoned” status with the Association for the Preservation of the Petite Ceinture and its railway network (ASPCRF in French).
Ce qui fait la magie et tout l’intérêt de ces lieux, c’est justement que ces sites sont moins connus et donc moins fréquentés, transformés. Pas de bravo, donc, pour ce projet débile qui va juste faire augmenter le nombre de bobos-concons-hipsters qui vont venir pourir ces lieux. Aucune technique dans ces photos, un regard complètement vide de sens. Pour s’inspirer de ces lieux, mieux vaut commencer par les comprendre, les entendre, les respecter, et non les “vendre”. Et mieux vaut donc garder ces photos pour vous dans ce cas Mr Pierre Folk…