[1][page needed] APPEVA was formed in 1970 with the aim of preserving a 600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in) narrow gauge railway as a working museum.

It then runs through a curved tunnel more than 200 metres (220 yd) long followed by a bridge to cross the road from Cappy to Chuignes and a zig zag which was built after World War I to allow locomotives to climb the very steep slope towards the Santerre upland area.

APPEVA owns or has in store 9 steam locomotives, of which three are operating and some are considered as a Monument historique, and 24 diesel engines.

The Froissy Dompierre Railway operates from April till the end of September, on Sundays and holidays, and every day of the week (except Monday) in July and August.

The Musée des chemins de fer Militaires et Industriels (Military and Industrial Railways Museum), located near the line terminus in the hamlet of Froissy (French commune of La Neuville-lès-Bray), features a large collection of 600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in) gauge railway material, steam engines, diesel engines and wagons, in an 1,800 m2 (19,000 sq ft) exhibition hall inaugurated in 1996.

The CFCD operates a variety of open and closed passenger stock, most of which is built on chassis of freight vehicles dating from World War I.

During the 40th anniversary of preservation of the line in 2011, three British-based locomotives visited, including Darjeeling Himalayan Railway DHR 778.