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Going back to the 1800s there were three types of 'moving roads' in Western Europe - large rivers with a powerful current like the Rhine, rivers with a lazy current like the Seine, and the man-made canals. Until the 1820s and the arrival of the steam engine, animals had to pull the boats even on the heavy rivers. On quiet rivers and canals and until the propeller became really efficient many years later, the only form of traction possible was by man or animal. |
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On the big rivers, the steam-powered towboat replaced the horses, pulling itself and a line of barges along the river by means of a chain which lay on the riverbed. This was followed by the invention of the paddle wheel ship, which enabled large vessels, tugs and cargo-carriers, to travel upstream, fully loaded, at a fairly good speed. These vessels had very pointed bows, were 300ft long and wide enough to be able to carry a good tonnage, as well as passengers, in shallow waters.
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In 1879 in France, Mr. De Freycinet standardised the canal network by building locks, all of which were the same size, about 40m x 5.20m. As a result of this standardisation, the barges had to be re-designed in order to fit into the locks. Most of these new wooden barges were built to a new standard of 38.5m x 5.05m and were towed along the canal by horse, men, women and children alike.
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In the 1890s, engineers and shipyards designed a hull shape with a sharp bow that would cut through the water. The stern was counter shaped for good water arrival at the propeller. The steam powered tugs were legion, providing a more efficient way of towing on the 'lazy' rivers. They were able to tow four to six loaded barges at a time, depending on their engine power.
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1910 saw the arrival of the diesel engine, which certainly gave ships more independence. At first, the engines were not very powerful and the motorships had to have pointed bows, thus giving birth to Spits and Luxe-Motors. It appears that the Luxe-Motor took its shape directly from the tug as they have the same hull shape characteristics. The accommodations behind the wheelhouse were very luxurious and included a proper kitchen and a toilet. Remember, at this time most houses did not have running water nor indoor toilets. | |
| By the 1930s - 1940s, some steam tugs were still going on the rivers, but the new generation equipped with powerful diesel engines was taking over, as they were able to tow more weight, faster. The péniches could do long-distance deliveries, (thanks to Freycinet), from the north of Holland and Germany to the south of France...
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Most of the canals in northern France are equipped with tractors to tow the non-motorised barges. These tractors are either electric or Diesel powered.
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| In the 1950s - 1970s, a new generation of ships, the pushboats, gradually replaced the tugs on large rivers, as they were able to push much more tonnage in an easier way. The cargo carriers on big rivers now have powerful engines and can carry 1200 up to 3000 tons The Freycinet barges ply the canals and rivers all over the western European waterways. On a few canals in France, such as those in the Burgundy area, a bit of manual-animal traction is still going on.
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In the late 1960s, in the Netherlands, the old working sailboats were abandoned as they were not competitive enough. Fortunately, alternative lifestyle minded people took the opportunity to restore them and run them as charter vessels for students. Actually they saved a fair number of them. In France, in Paris the same alternative people started to use the barges as houses. Freycinet barges, Luxe- Motors, small Tjalks and Klippers. |
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From the 1970s to today, in France, the old canals are under a constant programme of upgrade and repair - some more than others. Trucks and railroads have taken over most of the need; however, the commercial barge is seeing a comeback, being particularly viable in the river systems due to cost of fuel and convenience of transport. Luckily too, this period has seen the advent of tourism on the European waterways and particularly on the ancient French canals. The early seventies gave birth to Hotel-barging; at first a few péniches were successfully transformed into cruising hotels. That form of tourism kept on increasing and nowadays a fair number of Hotel-barges are working and cruising through the best regions of the French canal network. Barges like Riverdance, now mostly in private hands, bring back that special feel of life on the canals and rivers of France and Europe to those adventurers seeking a personal experience of France, her people, her history and her culture.
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