Hainaut-Sambre

A predecessor company SA Marchinelle & Couillet built locomotives at the Usines Métallurgiques du Hainaut which were used on industrial railways, and exported around the world.

It has been speculated that the beginnings of industrialised iron working around Charleroi may date at least to 1000AD, with water powered forge, and furnace fed by charcoal.

The company had, in addition to blast and reverbatory furnaces and coke ovens, licenses for the extraction of coal and iron ore.

In 1835 the company became the Société Anonyme des Hauts Fourneaux, Usines et Charbonnages de Marcinelle et Couillet with a capital of 4.5 million francs.

861 "John Benn" and 986 "Carbon" were built by Couillet for Decauville, for use in the works of the Melbourne Metropolitan Gas Company in Australia.

0-6-0T Couillet of the Chemin de fer touristique du Tarn