Register to access the digital edition of the newspaper El chubutThe Old Patagonian Express is one of the classic postcards that stands out in the Patagonian city of Esquel in the province of Chubut. To travel on it is to be part of a cultural icon on rails that is unique in the world.by CHUBUT EDITORIAL 07/27/2022 - 11:39 a.m.The sound signal of the locomotive built in 1922 is the beginning of a trip to the past, rails, wagons and a cloud of steam that evoke memory and are repeated as memorable experiences.La Trochita requires no introduction and is known worldwide for the characteristics of its narrow branch and for its particular conservation, since it has machines that this year, in October, celebrate their first 100 years.The origin of our trainIn 1908, the National Congress passed Law 5559 for the promotion of national territories. This law was promoted by Minister Ramos Mejia to promote the development of Patagonia and the productive areas of the Andean valleys.The law contemplated the construction of railways in order to consolidate an economic base with the construction of the main branches and their derivations.With the objective of agricultural development in the Andean area, the arrival of the railway was traced.Being the westernmost, it linked Nahuel Huapi with the 16 de Octubre neighborhood.After the First World War, it was decided to build the 0.75 cm economic gauge branch, since this material had been used during the war, and in this context the choice of the narrow gauge facilitated the availability of the material, which was available for construction. sale.Purchase of trainingIn 1921 the first 50 km were inaugurated in the province of Buenos Aires.That same year it was decided to acquire the material to unite the colony October 16 with Ingeniero Jacobacci, Río Negro.The purchase was made in 1922 and it was assembled to order, from there the first and second class passenger wagons, wagons for finances and cargo were created.The purchase included the first 50 steam locomotives with a gauge of 0.75 m made by the Henschel & Sohn firm in Germany, in addition it also provided 4 oil tender locomotives for maneuvering, 2 tender cranes.Another acquisition was that of 25 locomotives from The Baldwin Locomotive Works firm in Philadelphia, United States.departure stationIt was in 1922 that the design of the 75 cm branch (narrow gauge) also began.In 1935 work began on the first sections of the line.In 1941 La Trochita arrived in El Maitén, headquarters of the railway workshops, which are currently in operation, and finally on May 25, 1945, it arrived in the city of Esquel.It was in that year when the first locomotive and its wagons came to life, providing possibilities for stable jobs and facilitating communication between isolated places.At present, the train leaves from Esquel, the end of the rail station, to reach Nahuel Pan, a Mapuche-Tehuelche community, where the House of Artisans, the Museum of Original Patagonian Cultures and the Tokom Topayiñ Fair are located.Part of our history continues to roll, transporting tourists from all over the world who enjoy the memories of train trips next to the warm salamander, which are still preserved and work in their wagons today.La Trochita is part of the historical and cultural heritage of all Argentines, in addition to Esquel, it provides tourist services at the stations of El Maitén and Ingeniero Jacobacci, being in all of them a cultural icon of the region that generates a sense of belonging in each community.It is part of a heritage that we have received and that we must protect in order to maintain it over time as part of the history of our country and of the Argentine Railways.The five detainees of Patronato were releasedA woman from Trelew in the final of the Copa América de Fútbol 7Sports training with the "Growing Happy" programNew food handling courseMeasures for trips abroad: "They are killing a tourism sector"There are 1031 whales in the sea of ​​ChubutIván de Pineda visited the Paleontological Museum of TrelewOrcas spotted in Caleta ValdésDo you want to receive alert notifications?9 de Julio 329 - 1st Floor - Cp U-9100H Telephone (+54) 280 4434 802/3 Fax: (+54) 280 4420 799 E-Mail: info@elchubut.com.ar Publicidad@elchubut.com.arRoque Sáenz Peña 79 Tel: 4455555. 4457545 / Fax: 4454567 E-Mail: elchubutmadryn2015@gmail.com elchubutpmadmi@gmail.comAv. Fontana 762 Telephone (+54) 02945 451887 / Fax: 453131 E-Mail: elchubutesquel@speedy.com.arMustang Cloud - CMS for news portals