Open house at the Chemin de Fer des Chanteraines: a free day focused on trains

Small trains carry big stories. On the edge of Paris, the Chemin de Fer des Chanteraines invites curious visitors to peek behind the scenes of its activity during its Open House Days, scheduled for Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7, 2026. Based in the Parc départemental des Chanteraines, between Gennevilliers and Villeneuve-la-Garenne, this narrow-gauge tourist railway offers a different way to explore the park, moving to the rhythm of steam locomotives, historic diesels and fledgling electric trains.

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Put into service in 1981, after the park opened, the Chemin de Fer des Chanteraines has been operated since 1984 by a group of enthusiasts, under an agreement with the Hauts-de-Seine department. Its line, about 5.5 km long, weaves through several park sectors and connects, notably, the outskirts of Gennevilliers to Villeneuve-la-Garenne. It runs on a narrow gauge of 60 cm, typical of small industrial railways or tourist lines.

The site's mission blends heritage with hospitality: to keep a living railroading craft alive—operating, maintaining, and passing on a know‑how—while offering families an accessible and unusual stroll in a vast green space in Île-de-France. The Parc des Chanteraines, owned by the Hauts-de-Seine department, is a sprawling hub for walking, nature and leisure, with winding paths, meadows and views of the Seine.

Parc des Chanteraines, the huge green space in Gennevilliers and Villeneuve-la-Garenne (92)
Created in 1975, the Parc des Chanteraines offers an exotic setting, perfect for a jog, a stroll or a day out with the kids. Located in the towns of Gennevilliers and Villeneuve-la-Garenne, come and discover this great park! [Read more]

For these open days, volunteers invite you to join from 10 a.m. On the program: depot tours, discovery of rolling stock, train preparation, warming up steam locomotives, miniature railway layout, rail modelling exhibitors and a refreshment bar. Access to the depot is free, whether you come by train or directly from the park following the signs.

The CFC line will also open at 10 a.m. for strolls through the park. It’s a chance to watch the volunteers at work up close, hear the machines breathe, and be reminded that a train—even a tiny one—still requires plenty of care, skill, and elbow grease. A simple outing, but above all free, to see the park from a different angle, with a touch of old-fashioned travel at the end of the platform.

Unusual: board a vintage train on the Chanteraines park railroad (92)
Parc des Chanteraines, located in the towns of Villeneuve-la-Garenne and Gennevilliers, is one of the largest green spaces in the Hauts-de-Seine department. As an added bonus, the park also boasts a railroad, where you can board an old-fashioned train on certain days of the month. [Read more]

Vintage trains, historic locomotives and railroad museums in and around Paris
The train, whether toy or life-size, is the object of many passions, among young and old alike. In Paris and the Ile-de-France region, the train is a symbol of the region's development, with historic stations, period railroads and museums dedicated to the history of the train, to discover what makes up our French railway heritage. [Read more]

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