Jules Petiet

Jules Petiet (5 August 1813 – 29 January 1871) was a French mechanical engineer who worked on the early development of the French railway network. He was the Chief Engineer of the Chemins de Fer du Nord from 1845, and became a locomotive engineer from 1848. From 1868 until his death, he was head of the prestigious engineering school École Centrale Paris, of which he was also a graduate. Petiet's name is one of the 72 names inscribed on the Eiffel tower. A street in Paris, rue Petiet (at Épinettes, 17th district) is named in his honour. Locomotives Petiet expanded the fleet of Nord locomotives from 187 at his appointment in 1848 to 841 at his death in 1871.