The railway
Since 2013, RF31 Productions has been uploading railway-themed video and photo content through its YouTube channel and other networks.
The beginning
The first videos were shot in 2010, but will not be published until May 31, 2013, when the YouTube channel was inaugurated.
Based in Amiens, the channel began under the name "TheRailFandu80" with filming in the Somme, Pas-de-Calais and Paris counties.
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The adventure in northern France will have been short-lived, because a year and a half after the inauguration an event will change the course of things.
The Toulouse adventure
December 10, 2014 is the arrival in Toulouse, with a total change of railway scenery with many new things to discover. The channel then becomes "TheRailFandu31".
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With new content, a new audience is captured allowing for unexpected strong growth and innovation. The RF31 Productions concept started in 2016.
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A particular attention for the old trains begins, as well as the desire to travel from this new base.
Trains abroad
There has been filming done abroad from the start, the first being in Venice (IT) in November 2013.
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Between 2014 and 2016, for a brief period there were videos made in the UK and Spain. But the focus was on one country in particular.
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A great story was born in Italy, having free time the peninsula was explored with videos coming out from every corner. The last trip dates back to September 2019, with a hope of being able to return there one day to continue the story.
2017-18: The golden years
Already a frequent traveler since the previous year, the introduction of a subscription allowing unlimited train travel has increased the frequency of trips outside the region.
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During these two years, beautiful trains have been immortalized, journeys in the drivers cab and on board have been documented and new encounters have been made.
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A period that will remain in the memory, as well as in the archives while waiting for a possible second golden age.
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Rediscovering the region
Since 2019, there has been a desire to rediscover the region where the channel is based, leaving aside long journeys for days in the four corners of Occitanie.
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During this period, lineside filming became widespread, beginning in 2017, with fewer videos inside train stations.
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In 2020, the channel will experience a new "Rail Occitan" identity with a complete restructuring.
A new ambition
With the restructuring of the channel came the ambition to produce high quality shots, from there photography started to develop.
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Railway photos have always been complementary to videos, but in 2020 a new milestone was reached by making them necessary for the growth of the channel.
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The "Rail Occitan" year not having been productive, a final update was necessary.
Today
The channel became "RF31 Productions" in 2021, with the ambition of documenting the rail network in Occitanie and neighboring regions.
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Many events disrupt the railway landscape, so it's time to make the most of our trains before they end.
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The following years will be decisive, with new projects and the ambition to improve continuously on quality.
The story continues, with the channel's tenth anniversary approaching, one wonders what the future holds?
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The channel has several sections adapted to everyone's tastes:
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French railways - Compilations of trains in Occitanie and neighboring regions, with also archives from the rest of France.
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European railways - In the ambition to resume filming in other countries, for the moment this section includes compilations of trains shot in Italy. Last video in September 2019.
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News reports - This section includes old "railway reports" up to 2018 and new "Actu' Ferroccitan" reports, about railway news in Occitanie. Specials can also be added.
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Travel videos - All the videos filmed on board trains until 2019 can be found in this section allowing you to travel through France and Italy.
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You can view our archives here
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Modeling enthusiast? An HO network is being built here
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Come see our content on social media!
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