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History of the Trans - Andean Railroad
Several
plans and attempts were made to build the railway
from Guayaquil to Quito, since 1860 until 1874,
when the first locomotive reached Milagro.
But it was only by 1895, when Eloy Alfaro was president,
that contacts were made with North American technicians
Archer Harman and Edward Morely, representatives
of an American company interested in the building
of the "most difficult railway in the world"
as it was called at that time.
An agreement was reached, and "The Guayaquil
and Quito Railway Company" started the construction
in 1899.
The tracks finally reached a huge obstacle - an
almost perpendicular wall of rock - called the "Devil´s
Nose".
Many lives were shed in the building of what until
now is called a masterpiece of railway engineering:
a zig-zag carved out of the rock, which allows the
train, by advancing and backing up, to reach the
necessary height to the town of Alausí. The
train finally reached Alausí by September
1902 and Riobamba by July 1905.
From this point on, the construction was easier.
The highest point of the route - Urbina 3604 maters
- was reached by the end of 1905 and finally on
June 25, 1908 the train made its triumphal entrance
to Quito and was received by arches of palms, laurel
and flowers, bells tolling banquetes, dances and
popular festivities that lasted four days.
Later, by September 1915 the construction of the
railway between Sibambe and Cuenca was started.
The works proceeded slowly until 1930 when the
train arrived the station of El Tambo. By August
1945 the train reached Azogues and finally, the
railroad to Cuenca was officially inagurated on
March 6, 1965.
One of the main tourist atractions in Ecuador
and the province of Chimborazo is what is called
"The most difficult train in the world".
This train departs from Riobamba and crosses what's
called the "Devil´s Nose", which
sports an impressive descent down a steep cliff.
The final destination of the trip is in the city
of Alausí. Originally the final destination
was a city called Duran in the Province of Guayas,
but parts of the railroad track were destroyed
by the phenomenen "El Niño".
Local authorities are currently reconstructing
this part in order to recover the commerce in
this area and also offer the tourists the complete
trip to Duran.
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