Günter Dinhobl (Hrsg.): Sonderband 7. Eisenbahn/Kultur – Railway/Culture (2004)
I. Für eine Kulturgeschichte der Eisenbahn / Towards a cultural history of railways - Michael Cotte: Railways and Culture: An Introduction
RAILWAYS AND CULTURE: AN INTRODUCTION Michael Cotte In the title “Railway and Culture: an Introduction” I see two main directions of interpretation for the term “introduction”. The first meaning concerns itself with the general bibliographical survey of studies that links railways’ technologies and culture. Indeed it is an enormous question that will be carried out through the sessions of the seminar and demonstrated by the great diversity and ability of lecturers. I only intend to quickly draw some general views on trends and to emphasize - in my opinion - some important elements. The second meaning relates to the introduction of railways within the European culture; a question I studied through the case of the Saint-Etienne & Lyon railway line in France. It was certainly the most complete case of an early railway implementation outside of England, built between 1826-1833. The Project faced a deeply different context from the original British model, with drastic and new constraints due to geography, mechanical and steam-engine industries, economy etc. It is of course a good example of the diffusion of railway technologies to the continent with interesting items of adaptations and even major innovations. Such a case study also offers the chance to understand new questions arising about the cultural background that was the background of the new railway technologies, and specific (or general) responses that issued. Through the experience of the St-Etienne & Lyon, the following main questions on the early railways and their cultural patterns may be pointed out i.e. the role of transportation and economic context as a background for the first projects, the mentalities and the cultural attitudes towards new technologies, the social acceptance of the railway and the behaviour of the first customers, the early invention of a new company concept, the rise of a new technical culture for a new group of engineers etc. Mitteilungen des Österreichischen Staatsarchivs/Sonderband 7 43
