Suchard chocolate factory funicular (Switzerland)

 

 

Les Battieux paper mill inclined plane

The Battieux inclined plane is located at the bottom of the Serrières valley, near the source of the Serrière River, buried beneath vegetation. In summer, it's possible to walk over it without even noticing it! In winter, thanks to the thinning foliage, it reveals itself. Although in relatively good condition, it remains much more mysterious than its neighbor, the "Suchard" funicular.

The paper mill was wedged at the bottom of the Serrières valley and experienced serious difficulties in sourcing raw materials. These were initially delivered from Serrières station, taken down to the bottom of the valley by the Suchard funicular, and then distributed via the Decauville track network to the paper mill.

There was a conflict with other industrialists in the valley because the paper mill's carts were damaging the Decauville tracks.

The construction of the Battieux mill in 1951 allowed the paper mill to switch its supply route from the Deurres station.

The Battieux mill produced paper pulp from logs delivered from the Deurres station (storage, debarking, defibering, refining, grading, and bleaching).

The paper pulp was then brought down to the Monderie building, near the source of the Serrière River, via a pipe parallel to the funicular.

The Battieux mill was also used to supply the raw materials needed for papermaking (kaolin, talc, cellulose).

The water needed to make the paper pulp was pumped from the Serrière River and brought up to the Battieux mill.

Coal to fuel the boilers and produce the steam needed to dry the paper was lowered, starting in 1912, via a coal chute located on Chemin de la Justice (near Château Beauregard), whose access hatch can still be seen on the path.

The inclined plane was mainly used by personnel and for the transport of certain materials (talc, cellulose).

The kaolin was crushed at Les Deurres, then stored in the Battieux silo, still visible, and then lowered to La Monderie using a chain conveyor.

The inclined plane is entirely located within a trench that curves to the left, like an elbow, before passing under the pedestrian bridge. A metal bar, like a rail, is attached to each side of the trench, which appears to act as protection against the wall.

On the outer wall of the trench bend, a second metal bar doubles the first, as if to allow the funicular trolley to rub against this chute rather than against the wall!

It was in service until the end of the paper mill in 1981.