LOCOMOTION FESTIVAL
Every year since the early 90s takes place the event : 'La Locomotion en Fête', ‘Locomotion Festival’, on the air field of La Ferté Alais, 55 km south of Paris. Organized by ACPHT (Association for Creation of Technical History Park), one of the largest European gathering of older vehicles. Indeed, this event brings together collection vehicles : automobiles, trucks and military and fire vehicles, police vehicles, public works equipment, buses, motorcycles and quantity of tractors and agricultural equipment. Threshing machines in action, agricultural scenes or sawing wood as before are redone identical. Displays of tanks with also groups of historical reconstitution relive the battles of the past.
There was formerly a high dimensions career that allowed to see evolve any old ground off-road vehicles : 4x4 cars (Lafflly, Jeep, Latil) or 6x6 trucks ( Dodge, M35, Gama Goat, Berliet, GMC, Renault TRM) and even 8x8 (Saurer M8) and tracked (weasel, half-track), forestry machinery (skidder Timberjack 225) and machines (bulldozer Caterpillar 988 articulated wheeled) and many others, in the sand or on steep slopes. It was a rare, diverse and informative show on the off-road capabilities of each vehicles. Unfortunately, this large hole was filled long ago and the landscape became again desperately flat. It should also be noted, in the field of military vehicles, that there are now many classic vehicles mainly of the Second World War and after the war, very interesting, but rare vehicles (Laffly, Fiat of the 40s, Latil, tracked Hotchkiss, tracked vehicles (Weasel), are now absent since the last ten years.
Anyway, ‘Locomotion en Fête’ is always a great success. 1,500 vehicles of European collectors are registered, 20,000 visitors supervised by 250 volunteers come and see this big show and exhibitions that are presented. The great parade of the late afternoon on the runway, which includes all vehicles, remains the highlight of the show.
Pictures, royalty free, were taken by J M Maclou at la Ferté Alais on May 24, 2014.
VW Kübelwagen
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General view |
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General view |
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General view |
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General view |
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General view |
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Continental CD6 bulldozer |
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Eimco, light bulldozer |
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Derruppe 812 wheeled loader |
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Richier VR5, roller |
General view of trucks |
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General view of trucks |
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General view of trucks |
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General views of cars. |