Compañía del Ferrocarril Económico de Valladolid a Medina de Rioseco, Defunct state railway of Spain (1881-1930)
The Compañía del Ferrocarril Económico de Valladolid a Medina de Rioseco was a railway line operating from 1884 over a 40-kilometer stretch connecting Valladolid with a smaller town, carrying passengers and freight through rural countryside. The line featured a single track with modest stations and small steam locomotives originally built in Manchester and Liege.
The railway was founded in 1881 after an 1877 proposal initially considered animal-powered wagons before switching to steam, with service beginning in 1884. For decades it connected small communities with Valladolid and facilitated transport of grains and goods, facing increasing competition from road transport in the following century until closure in 1969.
This railway line was known locally as the "tren burra" because of its slow journey through the countryside, a name that reflected how communities viewed their daily connection. The route linked farmers, merchants, and families across small villages, making it central to regional life and commerce.
Today visitors can see remnants of the railway including rusted tracks and restored stations, with some sections converted into green paths for walking and cycling. Local groups occasionally organize special train rides and exhibitions to keep the history of this regional line accessible and alive.
One of the preserved locomotives, number 6 named Rioseco, was restored and now stands in a plaza in Valladolid as a monument to the region's railway history. This locomotive serves as a tangible reminder of how these machines operated and their importance to local communities.
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