Central of Chubut Railway
Encyclopedia
The Central Chubut Railway (in Spanish: Ferrocarril Central del Chubut) was a British-owned company that built and operated a gauge
railway line in the Argentine
province of Chubut
in the Patagonia
region of Argentina at the end of the nineteenth century.
In 1884 the Argentine government granted the Welsh
immigrant Lewis Jones
a concession to build and operate a railway between the valley of the Chubut River
and Porth Madryn
on the southern side of the Península Valdés. With the help of Asahel P. Bell, an engineer, Jones set up a company in Liverpool
, England
to finance the construction.
On 11 November 1888, a line 70 km long between Trelew
and the quay in Puerto Madryn was opened. From Trelew the line was extended 50 km to Gaiman
on 31 December 1908 and from there to Dolavon
on 12 October 1915. In 1920 the company was nationalised
and later the line was extended from Dolavon to Las Plumas
.
The line was finally closed in 1961.
Metre gauge
Metre gauge refers to narrow gauge railways and tramways with a track gauge of . In some African, American and Asian countries it is the main gauge. In Europe it has been used for local railways in France, Germany, and Belgium, most of which were closed down in mid 20th century. Only in Switzerland...
railway line in the Argentine
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
province of Chubut
Chubut Province
Chubut a province in the southern part of Argentina situated between the 42nd parallel south and the 46th parallel south , the Andes range separating Argentina from Chile, and the Atlantic ocean...
in the Patagonia
Patagonia
Patagonia is a region located in Argentina and Chile, integrating the southernmost section of the Andes mountains to the southwest towards the Pacific ocean and from the east of the cordillera to the valleys it follows south through Colorado River towards Carmen de Patagones in the Atlantic Ocean...
region of Argentina at the end of the nineteenth century.
In 1884 the Argentine government granted the Welsh
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
immigrant Lewis Jones
Lewis Jones (Patagonia)
Lewis Jones was one of the founders of the Welsh settlement in Patagonia. The city of Trelew was named after him....
a concession to build and operate a railway between the valley of the Chubut River
Chubut River
The Chubut River is located in the Patagonia region of southern Argentina. Its name comes from the Tehuelche word chupat, which means "transparent". The Argentine Chubut Province, through which the river flows, is named after it...
and Porth Madryn
Puerto Madryn
Puerto Madryn is a city in the province of Chubut in the Argentine Patagonia. It is the head town of the Viedma Department, and has about 57,571 inhabitants according to the last census in 2001....
on the southern side of the Península Valdés. With the help of Asahel P. Bell, an engineer, Jones set up a company in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to finance the construction.
On 11 November 1888, a line 70 km long between Trelew
Trelew
-References:La Pasión según Trelew, Espejo de la Argentina, 1997, Editorial Planeta Argentina S.A.I.C.; Third Edition: April 2000, Buenos Aires, ISBN 950-742-859-3-External links:* * * *...
and the quay in Puerto Madryn was opened. From Trelew the line was extended 50 km to Gaiman
Gaiman
-People:People with the surname Gaiman:* David Gaiman, U.K. businessman; G & G Foods, Church of Scientology* Michael Gaiman, record Producer and manager of Jefferson Starship since 1992.* Neil Gaiman, author...
on 31 December 1908 and from there to Dolavon
Dolavon
Dolavon is a small town in the Patagonian province of Chubut, Argentina. It has a population of 2,929 according to the . It is located close to the Chubut River, about 19 km to the west of Gaiman. The name comes from Welsh dôl and afon . Welsh immigrants began to settle in the area after their...
on 12 October 1915. In 1920 the company was nationalised
State-owned Argentine Railway Companies
* Ferrocarril Domingo Faustino Sarmiento* Ferrocarril General Bartolomé Mitre* Ferrocarril General Manuel Belgrano* Ferrocarril General Roca* Ferrocarril General San Martín* Ferrocarril General Urquiza...
and later the line was extended from Dolavon to Las Plumas
Las Plumas
Las Plumas is a village in Chubut Province, Argentina. It is the head town of the Mártires Department. It was established in 1921....
.
The line was finally closed in 1961.