Sprague-Thomson

First oars entirely out of metal of the Parisian subway.

Research before 1908

After the catastrophe of Crowns in 1903, the Compagnie of the metropolitan railway of Paris (CMP) seeks to develop a reliable and sure rolling stock. The equipment Thomson Multiple is generally adopted, but it is complex. Contrary, the " Sprague" from America does not convince.

Motor coaches with two engines

The Sprague-Thomson appears in 1908 by the synthesis of the preceding systems. Since 1907, the CMP makes build metal oars. Motor coaches 500 form the first series of Sprague-Thomson which one will call familiarly “Sprague”. These entirely metal cars have as motor coaches two engines of 175 cv. An oar of five cars thus has three motor coaches. Comprising a large compartment of switchgear, they are called " large loges". After the Great War, one builds improved motor coaches where equipment occupies less place: " small loges".

The motor coaches “North-South”

The Compagnie of the North-South makes build from 1910 of Sprague different, with four engines of 125 cv and two motor coaches per train instead of three. The color gray-blue of the North-South is more pleasant than the dark green of the CMP.

Motor coaches with four engines

Gradually, the cases lengthen, passing 12,6 m at the origin to 14,2 m at the end. The motor coaches with four engines of 175 cv appear in 1927 and are all 14,2 m length. The color (dark green, clearly, bluish gray) varies with time, just as the number of doors passes from three to four. The trailers of 1e class are red on the network CMP, yellows on the North-South one. There are mixed trailers half red green half. The traditional oar comprises two motor coaches with four engines, framing three trailers, of which that of the medium is 1e class. The motor coaches with four engines are built until 1936. Some result from rebuilt old models and practically identical to new…

Decline

In 1956, the transformation for the circulation of tyred oars on the line 11 involves a batch of Sprague towards the reform. They are mainly transformed into material of work. It will be the same for the line 1 (1963) and 4 (1967).

The good-bye

The appearance of the material iron MF 67 in 1968 on the line 3 speeds up the reform of Sprague. MF 67 team then the line 7 then disperses on many lines. In 1975, the lines 2, 3bis, 5, 7bis, 12 are entirely exploited in Sprague and the lines 8, 9, 10 partially. The last motor coaches with two engines are erased in 1976 of the line 2. The North-South left in 1972.
The arrival of MF 77 accelerates the fall of Sprague which finds on only the line 9. In 1982, it is virtually finished but the flood of the station Église of Puppet puts many MF 67 except service. The line 5 must take again material in the 9 and Sprague of the activity. The four last Sprague oars of the line 9 cease rolling the April 16th 1983 in an festive atmosphere, after 75 years of good and faithful services. The oars which roll in the last are youngest, but it would seem that certain motor coaches of 1908/10 circulated 65 years.

Posterity

the RATP preserved three Sprague oars, but there is of them currently only one of usable with travellers. It circulates from time to time for animations of lines and associations of impassioned (ADEMAS, COPEF). Many cars are in museums and those which make the trains of work will reach the 100 years!
Reformed motor coaches were transformed into Tracteur Sprague in order to ensure work of the subway of Paris and some are always in activity.

External bond

Sprague-Thomson.com

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