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La contribution des technologies étrangères à l'électrification ferroviaire de la France: 1890-1940

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  • Christophe Bouneau

Abstract

[fre] Résumé Les technologies étrangères jouèrent un rôle majeur dans l'électrification des grandes Compagnies ferroviaires françaises, tant pour la fourniture d'équipements que pour la conception générale des réseaux. Cette contribution ne doit pas être considérée comme un contrôle néfaste mais plutôt comme un dialogue fructueux, permettant la constitution dans Pentre-deux-guerres d'une filière française spécifique. Dans les trois systèmes techniques adoptés successivement, continu basse tension de 1895 jusqu'à 1906-1907, monophasé de 1908 jusqu'à la fin de la première guerre mondiale, enfin continu haute tension à partir de 1920, les Etats-Unis occupèrent une place prédominante avec General Electric et Westinghouse. La Suisse, avec Brown Boveri et Oerlikon, et dans une moindre mesure la Grande-Bretagne renforcèrent cependant leur influence durant les années vingt. Mais grâce aux efforts de leurs ingénieurs concepteurs et des constructeurs nationaux, les réseaux electrifies des Compagnies du Midi et du Paris-Orléans étaient devenus à leur tour, au moment de la nationalisation, des modèles européens, imités notamment en Espagne et aux Pays-Bas. Ainsi seuls d'importants transferts technologiques initiaux ont permis après la seconde guerre mondiale le rayonnement de Pélectrification ferroviaire développée par la S.N.C.F. [eng] Abstract Foreign technologies took a prominent part in the electrification of french railway Companies, as well for the providing of electrical fittings as for the general conception of networks. This contribution must not be regarded as a baneful control but as a profitable dialogue, leading to the establishment of a french specific system during the interwar period. The United States, with General Electric and Westinghouse, occupied a predominant place in the three technologies which have been successively applied, low voltage continuous current from 1895 up to 1906-1907, monophase current from 1908 up to the end of the first World War, lastly high voltage continuous current since 1920. Switzerland, with Brown Boveri and Oerlikon, and secondarily Great Britain reinforced yet their influence during the twenties. But thanks to the efforts of their engineers and the national electrical engineering industry, first of all Alsthom, the electrified systems of Midi and Paris-Orléans Companies became themselves at the time of the nationalization european models, especially copied in Spain and Netherlands. Thus important initial technological transfers conduced to the international diffusion of french railway electrification after the second World War.

Suggested Citation

  • Christophe Bouneau, 1993. "La contribution des technologies étrangères à l'électrification ferroviaire de la France: 1890-1940," Histoire, économie & société, Programme National Persée, vol. 12(4), pages 553-572.
  • Handle: RePEc:prs:hiseco:hes_0752-5702_1993_num_12_4_1691
    DOI: 10.3406/hes.1993.1691
    Note: DOI:10.3406/hes.1993.1691
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