French Metallic Train Sheds of 1850 to 1930: Structural Specificities and the Evolution of the Restoration Practices

Surviving historic train sheds constitute a broad and representative sample of metal construction of the period 1850 to 1930 in France. This article gives a historical overview of the life of iron or steel train shed structures and questions what makes them authentic, discussing the validity of some of the restoration choices made since the 20th century regarding heritage preservation. First, the specificities of this architectural heritage are highlighted and compared with other countries and other types of construction. Then, based on extensive archive material held by the French national railway company SNCF, the modifications the metallic structures underwent as restoration projects were carried out are analysed. It appears that the restoration practices significantly evolved between the 1970s-1980s and the beginning of the 21st century, becoming more sensitive to heritage preservation. However, choices regarding roofing materials have an impact on the loading of the structure, while structural interventions change the appearance and the load distribution. This enhances the need to include considerations regarding the preservation of the structure in the early stages of restoration projects.