The inauguration

The Cherbourg transatlantic harbour was inaugurated on the 30th of July 1933 by President Albert Lebrun. 

Bugatti rail-car, 52 seats, power 200CV, speed 177Km/h (110 Mph) 

The Bugatti railcar  "presidential" type, was built in Molsheim. It was used for the first time by President Lebrun the day of the opening of the liner terminal in Cherbourg.

In October 1934 it reached a speed of  192 Km/h (120Mph)  when it was tested near Le Mans. It  mainly operated on the stretch Paris-Dauville, Dieppe and Cherbourg.

 (source : http://autorails.multimania.com )

The Presidential train leaving Cherbourg.

Lets give homage to M. Edouard Houivet and to all who took part in this vast project of the 30s and whose names have been forgotten.

For this work a large work force had been employed together with immigrant workers from the all of Europe.

When this task of Cherbourg harbour was completed, M. Edouard Houivet was asked by  Christiani & Nielsen to participate in the construction of the Abadan harbour in Iran, but he chose  to remain with his family in Cherbourg, his birth place, where he ended his life in 1972 at the age of 83.