Jean-Baptiste Berlier
Encyclopedia
Jean-Baptiste Berlier was a French
engineer
and inventor who was responsible for the Pneumatic tube
postal system
of Paris
, which operated until as late as 1984.
Berlier was also the promoter of various ideas for a subterranean tram
way which would have been built using similar tunneling
technology
as the "tube
railway
s" of London
. Though these were never realised, Berlier was heavily involved with the Paris Metro
from its opening in 1900 and indeed was one of the key instigators of the Société du chemin de fer électrique souterrain Nord-Sud de Paris which went on to build two private
ly funded lines that were later absorbed by the Compagnie du chemin de fer métropolitain de Paris
, and are still in use today as (parts of) Paris Métro Line 12
and Paris Métro Line 13
.
There is a Parisian street named after him in the 13th arrondissement, the Rue Jean-Baptiste-Berlier.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
and inventor who was responsible for the Pneumatic tube
Pneumatic tube
Pneumatic tubes are systems in which cylindrical containers are propelled through a network of tubes by compressed air or by partial vacuum...
postal system
Mail
Mail, or post, is a system for transporting letters and other tangible objects: written documents, typically enclosed in envelopes, and also small packages are delivered to destinations around the world. Anything sent through the postal system is called mail or post.In principle, a postal service...
of Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, which operated until as late as 1984.
Berlier was also the promoter of various ideas for a subterranean tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
way which would have been built using similar tunneling
Tunneling
Tunneling may refer to:* Digging tunnels * Quantum tunneling, the quantum-mechanical effect where a particle crosses through a classically-forbidden potential energy barrier...
technology
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
as the "tube
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
railway
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
s" of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Though these were never realised, Berlier was heavily involved with the Paris Metro
Paris Métro
The Paris Métro or Métropolitain is the rapid transit metro system in Paris, France. It has become a symbol of the city, noted for its density within the city limits and its uniform architecture influenced by Art Nouveau. The network's sixteen lines are mostly underground and run to 214 km ...
from its opening in 1900 and indeed was one of the key instigators of the Société du chemin de fer électrique souterrain Nord-Sud de Paris which went on to build two private
Private sector
In economics, the private sector is that part of the economy, sometimes referred to as the citizen sector, which is run by private individuals or groups, usually as a means of enterprise for profit, and is not controlled by the state...
ly funded lines that were later absorbed by the Compagnie du chemin de fer métropolitain de Paris
Compagnie du chemin de fer métropolitain de Paris
The Compagnie du chemin de fer métropolitain de Paris , or CMP, was the forerunner of the RATP, the company managing the Parisian subway.- Origin :...
, and are still in use today as (parts of) Paris Métro Line 12
Paris Metro Line 12
Paris Métro Line 12 is one of sixteen metro lines in Paris, France. It links Issy-les-Moulineaux in southern Paris to Porte de la Chapelle in the north. With 72 million journeys per year, Line 12 is the eleventh busiest on the Parisian Métropolitan system...
and Paris Métro Line 13
Paris Metro Line 13
Line 13 is one of the sixteen lines of the Paris Métro rapid transit system. The result of the fusion of the now-extinct Line B of the Nord-Sud Company and the old Line 14 of the CMP. Their creation was destined to be replaced by a north-south RER line before the reorganisation of the...
.
There is a Parisian street named after him in the 13th arrondissement, the Rue Jean-Baptiste-Berlier.