This enamel plate was made by one of the key players on the waterway, the charterer. He often had a few boats of his own and also offered towing services and insurances
Housing for women and children on boa...
At the end of the 19th century, transport boats are built with housing for women and children on board. Note the coal under the floor of the small cabin. The bargee is paid according to the “tonnage” and every available space is used.
Inland river navigation
Inland river navigation consists mainly of transporting goods, but it must not be forgetten that it is also used to transport people. Travelling by boat was often much more comfortable and safer than travelling on bad roads.
A poem called the ‘Vert-Vert’
This painting was inspired by a poem called the ‘Vert-Vert’ written by Jean-Baptiste-Louis Gresset. The painting dates back to the 18th century and shows a passenger boat with a humoristic story behind it. A parrot, with a very refined language, was claimed by monks from a monastery in Nantes and had to travel by boat […]
Decorative arts
When decorative arts meet the history of science and techniques… This 18th century earthenware is a testimonial of the age when inland water navigation was the most important way to transport goods. This earthenware represents the transport of slate on a ‘chaland’ boat, typical for the Loire river.
Tugging
Tugging is a traction technique of hauling barges without an engine. A chain, immersed in the river, was fixed at its two extremities. The winch boat or the tugboat, equipped with a steam engine, was attached to this chain and could pull about 15 barges. It’s the technique of that made Conflans so important at […]
The “JACQUES”
The “JACQUES” tug built in 1904, is a historical monument and since 1996 belongs to the Association of Friends of the Museum. It is the last great witness of the golden age of the capital of inland water transport. You can see it a little further upstream, at the” halte patrimoine» (heritage stop) together with […]
“The Pusher “
“The Pusher”:The principle of this innovation, introduced in 1955 to France from the United States, was easy: a directional motorboat, the pusher pushed barges lashed together. The pushing boat performed as one vessel which meant they gain in maneuverability, the water resistance is greatly diminished and especially it is not necessary to have staff on […]
the “Freycinet” barges
On the 5th of August 1879, Charles de Freycinet, who is then Minister of Transport, launches his programme to improve the navigation conditions and standardize the network to accommodate barges of 300 or 350 tons. Accordingly, the “Freycinet” barges will be widely seen. (38,5 m by 5,05 m).
The steam engine
The steam engine will change radically the inland water transport. Fulton presents in 1803 his « water truck driven by fire »…