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

Fig. 2 Difference of levels and inclines for the Loire railway lines

The coal prices were an excellent indicator for the transportation difficulties in the Saint-Etienne region. The unit was called “benne” (around one hectolitre for around 80 kg). In 1821-22, the coal prices at the collieries of the Loire basin were between 40 and 80 cents of francs, according to the quality. Transportation costs to Andrézieux, the closer port on the Loire River added between 40 and 65 cents, depending on the sites, observers and seasons. Distances reached a maximum of 20 km and the coal price almost multiplied by two! In the Rhone Valley, cost increases were similar: one franc to reach the river at Givors, first by road and then by the Givors’ Canal. There was at least an additional 30 cents from Givors to Lyon for towing on the river. Including the commercial margin, ordinary customers never paid less than two francs to buy one coal “benne”. On the other hand, the coal transportation had to support two stops. To reach the city of Lyon, the cost of transport tripled the coal price.

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Figure from: Cotte, Michel: Aux origines de la révolution industrielle en France 1790- 1860. Privas 1997, p. 121.