Knowing Cuban Railroad: A Pretext for Travelling

Cuba is unquestionably an Island full of colors and interesting places. It is an ideal site for those tourists searching for further details of what has been written about any country.

As for example, one of those details that draw the attention of tourists that come to the Island is the history of an important means of transportation: the Cuban railroad, phenomenon that represents an important space and a celebration for Havana.

Short time ago - specifically on November 19th, 2007, the largest island of the Antilles' railroad (first of its kind of the entire Spanish world) celebrated its 170th foundation anniversary. Railroad services in Cuba began in 1837 aimed firstly at the transportation of goods and persons. It was a very relevant mean of transportation since the very beginning.

Some details of this story can be known at a museum located in an old train station that exhibits engines and carriages as well as some other old parts. The first Spanish railroad was built up in Cuba. It was also the first of its type within the Antillean Islands and the entire Latin American world.

In September of 1930 the Royal Order of July 19th arrived in the Island. It was informing about the king's permission of building out an 'iron road' from Havana to San Antonio de los Baños (neighboring town) by José de Jesús Herrera y Herrera.

This road was intended to connect San Antonio de los Baños with the small town of Güines and other territories in Havana which was aimed at changing the original destination of the railroad.

On July 6th, 1830, first steps for the construction of the original railroad approved by the Junta de Fomento took place and building works began in November 19th, 1835. So that, the Island's authorities saw in February 15th, 1831, the first demonstration of the functioning of the first engine brought to Cuba. The public had also the opportunity of seeing it, paying their entrance, during the second exhibition in February 24th, of the same year.

For construction's purposes, the railroad section was divided into six parts. Finally, they decided to open formally the first part going from Havana, crossing San Felipe, to Santiago de Bejucal in the morning of November 19th, 1837.

The carriages and engines, as well as the English train from London to Birmingham, were manufactured in England and designed by Stephenson. At the beginning, the service comprised eight steam engines and fifty carriages for the transportation of merchandise with a weight-capacity between two and five tons.

From a total amount of eight engines brought from England, the first four were manufactured by Braithwaite, and arrived in the harbor of Havana in April 28th, 1837. At that time, people used to give names to these machines, so they were called as follows: Cubana, Habana, Villanueva (paramount tobacco magnate count of that time that was one of the railroad's promoters in Cuba) and La Comisión.

The arrival of these means of transportation meant for Güines, solely during the first year, a decrease of 70 per cent of transportation costs that allowed an expansion of commodities. This means of transportation became a tourist attraction that can be enjoyed at its museum at Cristina train station in Havana.

San Cristobal UK is a Tailor-Made Cuba holiday specialist and has a vast experience in organizing holidays to Cuba. This is one of a series of articles devoted to promote the Cuban Culture and to give information on what to do and see in your Holidays to Cuba.