Rouen-Le Havre Railway opens

On May 27, 1844, the Rouen and Le Havre Railway inaugurated service on its initial 50-mile line from Rouen to Le Havre, overcoming challenging terrain including the Seine valley with innovative engineering such as timber viaducts and steep gradients managed by early steam locomotives like the 2-2-2 Bury types. This project, backed by British capital and engineers including Joseph Locke, formed a vital link in France's growing rail system, reducing travel times dramatically from days by coach to mere hours. It boosted port commerce, passenger tourism to Normandy, and military logistics, setting precedents for standardized gauges and signaling that influenced later French lines. The railway later merged into the Chemins de fer de l'Ouest, leaving a legacy in regional connectivity still visible in modern SNCF routes.