"Le Mistral," a high-speed train named after the cold north-western wind that sweeps through the Rhône Valley to the Mediterranean Sea, played a vital role in connecting Paris and Marseille starting in 1950. Its service extended to Nice in 1952, consistently boasting the finest rolling stock in the French Railways' arsenal during that era.
In 1965, "Le Mistral" received an elevated status as a Trans Europ Express. Four years later, the "new Mistral" was unveiled, featuring the latest advancements in long-distance Inox steel coaches. These coaches, often referred to as "Mistral 69," came in various configurations, including compartments (A8u), open spaces (A8tu), restaurants (Vru), bars (Arux), and luggage vans/generators (A4Dtux).
The train departing from Paris comprised two sections, one destined for Marseille and the other bound for Nice, totaling 14 coaches. Additional coaches were added as needed to cater to changing passenger demands. Typically, the locomotive used for traction was the CC6500, often proudly displaying the "MISTRAL" emblem on the front, as exemplified by the Jouef model HJ2428/S.
This composition of the TEE "Mistral" remained in service until 1981 when the high-speed TGV made its debut on the Paris-Lyon line, marking a significant milestone in the landscape of French rail travel.
