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Railway-related
Photo
Tower
clock of the Central Argentine Railway. Built as integral part of
his Rosario station, saw to depart the first trains that ulteriorly would
convert to this city into the main economic emporium of the Argentina interior.
From
about 1870 mark with their clock and its bell sounds the hours that dictates
the pace of the city, as a lookout that watches toward the future in each
minute that elapses to the compass of their quedrants; and that at the
same time, it seemed to want to count us to all those which today we continue
to pass to his shade, old immigrant histories that with its efforts so
much made by our Country.
From
its site, in Wheelwright Avenue corner Paraguay street, his austere presence
today represents a urban milestone that deserved be taken into account.
Photo:
Mariano C. Antenore.
The
"Worker Train" that did run among Rosario and the great locomotive shop
of the General Mitre Railway located in the neighboring city of Pérez
(fifteen kilometers apart from our city, on the broad gauge line of the
former Western Santafecine Railway main line to Casilda) was a traditional
image in the urban panorama among the years 1917-1993. In this photo
of by mid of the 1980s can see integrated by a series of Second Class steel
cars of the former Central Argentine Railway headed by the ALCO RSD-16
ocomotive #8246 on the verge of pass the level crossing with the tracks
of the metre gauge-General Belgrano Railway main line in Cabin 8 (near
Ludueña station).
Photo:
Carlos A. Fernández.
In
the same era and place we observe to a metre gauge goods train of the General
Belgrano Railway headed by a veteran Cooper-Bessemer / General Electric
4GE756 locomotive (manufactured in 1949) crossing the broad gauge tracks
(the signal cabin is to the left of the image) in a scene that were repeated
unfailingly in the maximum density point of railway movement in both gauges
of our city.
Photo:
Carlos A. Fernández.
Train
#218 of the General Mitre Railway, originating from Córdoba and
course to Retiro (Buenos Aires) led by ALCO RSD-16 #8264 locomotive while
crosses the zone of the Alberdi Crossing in February 1987. This daytime
service with several intermediate stops was re-established in 1985, after
have been discontinued in 1977-8, and was characterized by transporting
frequently container-carriying platforms with accelerated freight (commonly
loaded with peanut for export, originating from the industrial plant of
the Georgalos company , located in Rio Segundo city, Province of Córdoba).
This
passenger service also fell victim of the "rationalization" of the Argentine
Railways, and it was canceled in the year 1992.
Photo:
Carlos A. Fernández.
Little
after the nationalization of the railway foreign-capital companies (among
1946 and 1948) in Rosario were accomplished numerous works intended for
to suppress redundant facilities or track sections. Such was the
case of the city access of the General Railways Company in the Province
of Buenos Aires (CGBA) that with a length of 13 kilometers was closed in
January 1950. For rerouting the rail traffic on that line (toward
Pergamino and Buenos Aires) was built a junction in the Kilometer 290 of
the metre gauge line to Retiro of the ancient Central Córdoba -Buenos
Aires Extension-, few meters of the bridge on the Saladillo Creek and of
the high level overpass of the CGBA.
In
this October 1987 photograph we observe the Train #703 "El Norteño
/ The Northerner" of the General Belgrano Railway, towed by a EMD / GM
G-22W #7767 locomotive -manufactured in Argentina under License among
1976 and 1980 - originating from Retiro and course to Córdoba, Tucumán
and Jujuy; while it crosses the turnouts of the junction (toward
the right of the image can be warned the exit of the line to Pergamino
as also the signs mast that protects said access; also can be seen
the stirrups from the disappeared overpass bridge of the CGBA to the height
of the last vehicle of the train).
Photo:
Carlos A. Fernández.
The
"Sorrento Cambios" switchyard was built by the Santa Fe Railway and after
the nationalization of the foreign capital railway companies was enlarged
and modified until be converted into the main switching facility in the
metre gauge in Rosario. In this image dating of the last years of
the 1980s can observe the Train #707 of the General Belgrano Railway, the
one which originating from Retiro (Buenos Aires) is running over the liaison
route among Cabin Km. 305 C.C. and the North Top of the "Sorrento Cambios"
switchyard, after something which will follow his trip with course to Santa
Fe, San Cristóbal, Tostado, Avia Terai, Presidencia Roque Sáenz
Peña and its final destination in Resistencia (Chaco Province).
This train fell victim of the "rationalization" in March 1993, the
same as the rest of the passenger services of this important railway system
of the Argentinian Center-North.
Photo:
Carlos A. Fernández.
The
Port of Rosario did count with an important railway system in mixed gauge
(e.g.: broad gauge -5 ft 6 in / 1,676 meter- more a third intermediate
rail for metre gauge access) than it was linked with the whole lines with
access to our city. For the trains movement within the port zone
were counted on several locomotives property of the managing entity, whose
but recent representative are at present the already veteran General Electric
Diesel-electric units acquired some forty years ago by the General Administration
of Ports (A.G.P.) that, though they are of broad gauge, also they were
equipped with the semi-automatic "Janney" couplers to operate with
metre gauge material.
Photo:
Carlos A. Fernández.
The
important trains movement and the intervening railways multiplicity in
the Rosario city motivated the existence of but of forty signal cabins,
several of those which yet stay in service. Cabin #3 of the Central
Argentine Rly., located in the junction among this company and the Buenos
Aires and Rosario Rly. (in proximities of the Rosario North station) was
one of the first in be established, and was continuing in service in 1985
to be taken the photograph attached. This installation was withdrawn
around the end of the same decade, to be put on service the new Barrancas
switchyard, being object of numerous depredations though its basic structure
subsists near the new alignment of the Avenue Ribereña Central,
in proximities of the former Davis Grain Elevator.
Photo:
Carlos A. Fernández.
An
important work of engineering represented the digging of the trench that
the Santa Fe Rly. accomplished at the beginning of the 1890s to go through
below of the Central Argentine Rly., in order to establishing his terminal
for passengers and goods in the Echesortu Quarter.
In
spite of have been tended an alone track, its dimensions and complementary
works were anticipated for the future establishment of a second track,
and inclusive during the decade of 1920s was projected its reconstruction
to give content to a third track. The progressive decrease of the
railway movement as of the decade of 1930s and the withdrawal of the terminal
passenger station of the company around the end of the decade of 1940s
made unnecessary any class of works of amplification, continuing in functions
until in 1987 the General Belgrano Rly. closed its facilities in the ancient
terminal of the French company, after something which almost at once the
Rosario Municipality proceed to fill it with such compulsion that inclusive
was not lifted the existing track. In this 1986 photograph can see
in the foreground the overpass of the General Mitre Rly. in proximities
of Ludueña, on the one which there are three tracks, one of those
which is being used by a passengers train to Retiro (Buenos Aires).
To the distance is observed the wooden overpass of the Humberto Primero
street.
Photo:
Carlos A. Fernández.
The
“Rosario Parada” shunting yard is the main installation of their type of
the broad gauge in our city and at present concentrates the greater part
of the trains movement. The shed that is observed to the right of
the image is the former freight-car light shop “Tiro Federal”, that at
present it has been transformed into locomotive service station, maintenance
and light repairs facility of the Nuevo Central Argentino freight concessionary.
Photo:
Carlos A. Fernández.
Other
photograph of the Train #707 of the General Belgrano Railway, in this case
departing from Rosario Oeste station in the afternoon of September 29 1990.
An interesting situation be consider the return to the passengers service
of the veteran General Electric 4GE-756 “Shovel Nose” locomotives due to
caused that by those years had been proceed to the installation in several
units of new ALCO/Bombardier 251-D Diesel engine, substituting to the depreciated
FIAT that in the 1970s had at the same time replaced the original Cooper
Bessemer of 1949.
With
the elimination of the last long distance passengers services in 1992-3,
these locomotives were destined to freight service and several of they
yet are found in service, with untiring services after a half century.
The passenger cars were in some cases withdrawn from the service, and many
other were intended for to reinforce the suburban services in the lines
of the metropolitan conglomerate of Buenos Aires.
Photo:
Carlos A. Fernández.
The
“Apeadero Sur” (South stop) “Juan Carlos Groenewold” was established at
the beginning of the 1980s to permit the descent of passengers originating
from Buenos Aires with destination in the Rosario South zone those which
previously they had to make it in Rosario Norte station with the consequent
delay in returning until a sector of the city that the train in the one
which were ending of traveling already had crossed. However, the
lack of a platform that permitted those same passengers to approach the
return trains to Buenos Aires was made to feel, since in times of the State
operationship was not executed so important work.
Recently
in 1999, Trenes de Buenos Aires (operator of the passengers service among
our city and the Federal Capital from 1997) executed this important improvement,
in principle to officiate of head-board of his service, and after its relocation
in Rosario Norte, the train to Retiro continues taking passengers in the
stop, improving the accessibility of the public user to this important
service.
In
the photograph is observed a train of the freight concessionary of Nuevo
Central Argentino, originating from near Villa Diego and with course to
the Rosario Parada shunting yard, crossing the stop by the track originating
from Buenos Aires.
Photo:
Mariano C. Antenore.
View
of Cabin 3 – Empalme (Junction) Central sector, watching toward the East
from Oroño Boulevard in a photograph of 1985. In the foreground
is the double track toward Rosario Central station (to the bottom, slightly
to the right) while in the left track a GAIA Diesel-electric locomotive
drags several vehicles originating from the Empalme Central yard bound
to Cabin 3 and intended for some of the external yards.
Mastering
the scene in the left is the Unit IV of the National Grains Board, in the
one which is observed some wagons in one of their tracks toward the grain
chutes. This grain elevator was the distant succeeding of the original
shipment installation built in the same site by Carlos Casado del Alisal
about a century before, and were emphasized by among the other facilities
of their type in our city because his provision were railway-effected exclusively.
To
the right of the image, to medium distance is a wing of the first locomotive
shed of the Central Argentine Railway, built in the first years of its
existence and that, after the opening of the Rosario Shops and his annex
Central Locomotive Shed -toward 1890- was modified to be used as goods
depot.
The
withdrawal of the railway use of this sector toward the end of state management
of Argentine Railways, and the subsequent acquisition of the Unit IV and
contiguous lands by the Rosario Municipality brought ready a notable transformation
of the sector. In 1997 was demolished the ancient locomotive shed
and were cut the access tracks bound to Rosario Central station to give
pass to the prolongation of the Central Riverside Avenue, while during
1999 was demolished the grain elevator to convert their grounds into public
park.
Photo:
Carlos A. Fernández.
Fisherton
station (renamed "Antártida Argentina" in the 1950s) was built by
the Central Argentine Railway about 1890 beside its Córdoba main
line almost ten kilometers from his terminus in Rosario Central station.
Though then the surrounding zone was depopulated, the railway chose this
sector to base the housings intended for his hierarchic staff, what gave
beginning to its urbanization and that with the pass of the years converted
it in one of the most select quarters of the Rosario high class society.
Opposed
to other stations of the line, the building is guided with its main platform
watching toward the South; this distinction obeyed to cause that
was built in simultaneity with the duplication of the track among our city
and Tortugas (113 kilometers to the West, in the border with the Córdoba
Province), furthermore that by be tried of a suburban station, the passengers
waiting the trains had to be made of the side of the line that leads toward
Rosario (must be recalled that in Argentina yet today the train traffic
is accomplished by the left hand, continuing English practice...) while
those that were returning of the downtown area immediately they did going
toward their houses. However, for protection of those passengers
that waited trains toward Córdoba side, was built a small refuge
that is observed to the right of the image that date of the year 1985;
behind of the same is found a handsome signal cabin of mixed brick and
wood construction.
The
abandonment of the local passenger services in 1977-8 implied for the inhabitants
of the surroundings that the trip times to/from the downtown area increased
from 18-20 minutes in train to 35-45 minutes that envolves the same distance
aboard of micro-buses.
At
the present (year 2000) the building of the station has been withdrawn
of the railway use to be transferred to the Quarter Association of the
zone, while the refuge has disappeared several years ago. The signals
cabin continues in hands of the railway concessionary Nuevo Central Argentino
for the control of the rail goods traffic, though the signals have been
disconnected and the trains dispatch is radio-guided.
Photo:
Carlos A. Fernández.
The
Rosario Oeste (West) station is the more modern building of their type
in our city. It was built among 1945 and 1946 by the Administration
of the State Railways (Argentine Central Northern Railway) to replace the
ageing construction, that was dating of ends of the 1910s that it was established
as "Kilometer 302 Stop" by the Central Córdoba Railway to the effect
of attending the incipient passengers and freight traffic. His design,
characteristic of the constructions of the era, it is simple but utilitarian.
From
1949-50, after the nationalization of the foreign-capital railway companies
and the necessary reorganization of the services, in this station were
concentrated the whole rail passenger and parcels in metric gauge in Rosario,
simplifying them of such way that immediately were solved inconvenient
of long date in our city, product of the multiplicity of the former companies.
Without
passenger trains services from March 11th 1993, the Rosario Oeste station
continues in functions of the attention of the Belgrano Cargas S.A. freight
traffic. His location on the axle of the Rail Trunk that by logic should
channel the North - South movement of both gauge trains through our city,
indicates it as the installation to be employed for the attention of the
trains originating from Córdoba, Tucumán and Santa Fe toward
Buenos Aires.
Photo:
Carlos A. Fernández.
Leant
in the gully of the central coast on the Belgrano Avenue, the monumental
frieze "The Sower" commemorates the first export shipment of wheat of Argentina,
that was accomplished in April 1878 from our city with cereal originating
from the Candelaria Colony (current Casilda city) founded in 1870 for the
pioneer Carlos Casado del Alisal.
This
Spanish entrepreneur few years after began the construction of the Oeste
Santafecino Railway (F.C.O.S.) that in 1883 connected Rosario with Casilda
and that toward 1888-9 had tended more than 200 track kilometers that they
were the catalyst of the intense settling of the South - West of Santa
Fe province, reaching the localities of Melincué and Cruz Alta (Province
of Córdoba).
In
our city, the F.C.O.S. had their terminus, shops and port in the current
Urquiza Park, and to permit the load of heavy crates, was dug in the gully
a trench within the one which was tended a track that was descending until
the dock. The heavy slope that was characterizing this descent made
necessary the employment of an steam winch to permit the movement of the
wagons.
After
the beginning of the works of Rosario Port in 1902, the ancient coast of
the Paraná River was filled, being built the current Belgrano Avenue
over the ancient dock of the F.C.O.S. that it was dismantled, and the trench
in the gully was closed using the time back built containment wall, the
same that thereinafter served of framework to "The Sower" and represents
other railway milestone in this city that owes so much to the action of
the Rail.
Photo:
Mariano C. Antenore.