Binari convergenti : le prime ferrovie in Piemonte e l'alleanza tra geologi e tecnici, 1845-1871

Focusing on the Kingdom of Sardinia, this essay aims to shed light on the contribution of geology to the construction of the first railways and on the interaction between scientists and technicians. Personal relationships not only allowed for a fruitful and mutual exchange of knowledge, but also played a fundamental role in the internationaltransfer of technology. These are the aspects that will be investigated, referring to theBelgian engineer Henri Maus (1808-1893) and the Piedmontese geologist Angelo Sismonda (1807-1878), who worked alongside him in the design of the Fréjus tunnel. Geological expertise proved essential for railway works and, conversely, engineering works revealed important fossil remains and new information on the structure of the Alps, enriching the geo-paleontological debates of the time. [Publisher's text]