The first railway in Ecuador was a short line running inland from Yaguachi, near Durán. It opened in the early 1870s (sources differ as to the exact date) and was built to 3ft 6in (1067mm) gauge, an unusual choice for Latin America but probably dictated by the availability of ready made material from the British suppliers. The line was intended to link Guayaquil (via a river connection from Yaguachi) to Sibambe, where it would meet the mule roads from Quito. However, by the turn of the century, a grandiose project was conceived to carry the line through to Quito; this involved major engineering works to overcome the mountainous climb out of Sibambe, and the result was a unique steeply graded line with switchbacks ascending La Nariz del Diablo (“The Devil’s Nose”). The line opened throughout from Durán (situated on the opposite bank of the river Guayas from Guayaquil) to Quito in 1908. There were few later extensions; noteworthy were Quito to Ibarra in 1929, extended to San Lorenzo on the northen coast in 1957; a branch from the main line near Durán into Guayaquil proper in 1936; and finally a branch from Sibambe to Cuenca, opened as recently as 1965. There have never been any international connections.
In the latter half of the 20th century the network suffered much neglect, until just a few isolated sections of line remained in operation. Work is in now hand to rehabilitate the Guayaquil to Quito line and, although progress has been slow, freight and several regular passenger services now operate on parts of the route. Most of the passenger services are tourist oriented and some are steam hauled. In addition to services by the national operator, railcar excursions are offered by at least one private company.
© 2006-2012
Glyn Williams
Photo image © Empresa de Ferrocarriles Ecuatorianos
Flag image from CIA World Factbook
