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History of the RGP

After the World War II, the SNCF wished to unify its fleet of railcars. Among these unified railcars, the SNCF had to have engines designed for long course.
The RGP (Rames Grand Parcours, or Long Course Coaches) were thus born, voluntarily equipped in a luxurious way for the time, and linkable in up to six units of MUs (Multiple Units). They were called "Green Lizards", and circulated on the line of Bourbonnais, via Cosne and Nevers.

The RGP in station of Toucy-ville. August 1991. Courtesy of the AATY

The RGP harnessed in Picasso in the countryside close to Charny. June 1991. Courtesy of the AATY

The RGP preserved by the AATY

The RGP preserved by the AATY, the X.2716 motor coach and pilot trailer XR.7762, was acquired at the end of 1986 near the deposit of Bordeaux. It had then circulated for more than 4 million km. It was the last to make a commercial run on Bordeaux-Sarlat, on october 31, 1986. Six months later, it was in Puisaye. It lost its original green color with net stainless to the profit of the red, white and gray of the AATY. It formed part of the lot of 20 RGP built from 1950 by De Dietrich (motor coaches) and Brisonneau (trailers, which comprised a driver's cab and two intercommunication). The RGP had two diesel engines Renault 517G in V12, the same as those of the Picasso rail-cars. Their weight were respectively 45 tons for motor coach and 32 tons for trailers, for a total capacity of 100 passengers.

The RGP with the stop at Toucy.
May 1997. Courtesy of the AATY

The project of rehabilitation

In order to be able to offer to the amateurs and the public in general the possibility of rediscovering the taste of voyage in Long Course Coaches of the 50's, the tourist railway association of the Country of Puisaye-Forterre decided to restore its RGP.
The transport capacity has been somewhat tripled, passing from about sixty places for Picasso to approximatively 160 ones with the two machines in service...

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