Line of Saint-Etienne - Andrézieux

The Line of Saint-Etienne - Andrézieux is the first railway concession in France and continental Europe (granted by ordinance of the king Louis XVIII to Louis-Antoine Beaunier).

History

The first railway concession in France

May 5th 1821, Louis Antoine Beaunier asked for the concession of a long railway of Saint-Etienne Andrézieux of almost 23 km.

By royal decree of February 25th 1823 Mr. de Lur-Saluces and consorts were authorized, under the title of `' Company of the railroad'', to establish a line `' of the Loire with Bridge-to-L' Ass, on the river of Furens, by the carboniferous territory of Saint-Etienne'' (23 km).

Transport was limited to the goods, particularly with the coals. The kilometric tax was of 0.0186 Fr per hectolitre of coal or 50 Kilo of goods.

The concession was perpetual.

The first railroad company

The ordinance of July 21st 1824 authorized the constitution and approved the statutes of a Compagnie limited company styled of the railroad of Saint-Etienne to the Loire for the execution and the exploitation of the line. The company was formed for 99 years, except renewal.

The authorized capital was of a million, represented by 200 actions of 500 FR. to which 8 bonus shares were added data to the project executor (Louis Antoine Beaunier) who became the director of the company.

Startup

The line is used as of on May 1st for test and is opened on June 30th 1827. The opening " Dite" official on October 1st 1828 forever take place nor moreover no inauguration. This date relates to only the 1st complete financial year.

The first line is only intended for the goods in coaches called carriages tractor drawn by horses. To the return, they transported gravel, sand and lime. It is necessary to note however a major disadvantage of this project, which was due to the fact that the Loire was not naviguable with Andrézieux, that with the descent and that during a few days of the year. Consequently the boats which ensured the connection swallows railway line, were built and launched with Andrézieux, and when they went down, did not go up. They were then sold at cheap price, which very heavily burdened the price with transported coal.

First travellers

March 1st 1832, the line is opened to the travellers. It will remain with animal haulage with 3 miles per hour until in 1844, date on which the company bought 2 engines with vapor Schneider (the Loire and Furens) with, until in 1845, a traction " mixte" vapor for the goods, animal for the passengers.

Ways

1 way of Saint-Etienne Bridge-to-the Âne with Andrézieux Port.
the way of the 1st French line adopted a system or the cast iron rails had 1,20m length and were supported at each end by a cast iron bearing, even fixed to him at the stone die by nails with broad head inserted in the chene ankles.

See too

List of the railway lines of France
Chronology of the railroads

External bonds

Saint-Etienne, birth of the European network of railroad?
life of the Rail

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