ATU Antologías - El Tranvia-Tren de La Floresta

In Uruguay, as throughout Latin America, from the mid-19th century (and arguably for almost the entire 20th century), the poor road network and slow available transport were characteristic. This transport was generally carried out by oxen, whose work was extremely cumbersome and problematic. At the beginning of the 20th century, the only possible means of transporting extracted materials were either by cart (and later by river) or by railway. The use of small narrow-gauge systems was nothing new, as it was the standard method of the time, generally used in industry and even for temporary works, through a system of removable track sections, patented in France and known as Decauville. This allowed for the installation of small, temporary railway lines, which, due to the low weight of the pieces, could be modified as the works progressed. These railway lines were primarily traversed by small steam locomotives, mostly of German origin, but there were also "animal-powered" lines where dump wagons were simply used for the work, pushed by people or even animals. The history of the seaside resort of La Floresta, located on the eastern coast of Uruguay, facing the Atlantic Ocean, is inextricably linked to the railways, like so many other ventures that began in those early days of a country just beginning to explore its tourist potential in the early 1900s. June 21, 1911, could be defined as the date that marked the beginning of the founding of one of the most beautiful and important seaside resorts on Uruguay's Gold Coast. On that date, Dr. Miguel Perea acquired the first plots of land in the area: he acquired them through a company called "La Floresta S.A." As was common in all projects of this kind, when construction began on what would later become La Floresta, the only means available for moving materials were oxen and carts. However, the amount of work to be done made the need for a more efficient workforce evident. Initially, the idea was to acquire more animals, many more, which led to the exploration of more viable and efficient alternatives. Although oxen were very strong animals, they tired easily, got sick, and were very slow. They needed to be fed, sheltered at night, and protected from the elements. By that time, railway systems of the "Decauville" type were already widespread in Uruguay, and there wasn't a construction company, industry, or any other business that required moving heavy loads that didn't have one of these small industrial trains. The decision was then made to install a Decauville-type railway system, also known as a "narrow gauge" railway. Perhaps the reason for this decision was that Don Francisco Piria, who at that time had already built Piriápolis and the resort's internal railway, informed Perea that he could purchase the necessary equipment from the company that had just finished constructing the Nico Pérez to Treinta y Tres railway line (Eastern Extension of the Central Uruguay Railway). This line had used 50cm gauge rolling stock, hauled by five locomotives manufactured by W. G. Bagnall, which were later sent to Argentina. Until that moment, the construction of the Eastern Extension of the CUR was the only known instance in Uruguay of a 50cm gauge railway with locomotives (there were others, but horse-drawn), with 60cm gauge being the general standard for Uruguay's industrial railways. With the exception of the locomotives, the rest of the rolling stock, the hauled vehicles, would apparently remain in Uruguay, and, being now surplus, its sale would be completed quickly. Thus, before the end of 1911, the company La Floresta S.A. acquired four kilometers of iron track, 12 freight cars (hopper cars), and other necessary equipment. It is interesting to note that the railway's installation was specifically intended to connect the station of the Standard Gauge Railway, formerly the Uruguay East Coast Railway, with the seaside resort. Therefore, an embankment approximately two meters high was built, extending in a straight line to the beach at La Floresta.