Buenos Aires Western Railway - Anecdotes

Anecdotes

• Once a “cuarteador” challenged the steam engine to a tug-of-war with his horse, which was a champion at this game. It seemed at first that the horse was winning, but in reality it was a prank by the mechanics who had deliberately reversed in order to make him believe he was winning, only to immediately change direction and win, violently ripping the rope apart at the same time.
• "...there was no lack of curious episodes, such as the boy who lay down on the tracks for a bet, the train passing over him, and chief Yanquetruz who on entering the train looked for where the coal-eating, fire-breathing horse was hidden..."
  (Pastor Servando Obligado in "Tradiciones de Buenos Aires".)
• "...At night a carriage carrying a family ran the same risk. It came in at Paraná corner, and halfway across the square it was surprised by the train which leaves Park station at 9.25 pm. There would have been no avoiding it if the carriage had not managed to mount the pavement on the left. The carriage driver was not afraid, and with a few good lashes of the whip managed to urge his nags to the mentioned task. It was time. The train passed by, grazing the carriage’s wheels. The reader can imagine the unpleasant moment which the family within the carriage passed. To avoid a repeat of these mishaps or worse, guardrails should be recommended on this street to stop the entrance of all types of vehicle five minutes before the train is supposed to cross it. "
  (La Nación, 16 August 1882).
• For the steam engines to run well, pure water was a requirement. In 1856, as proposed by Eduardo Madero, the Western Railway decided to increase the bore of pipe which transported water to the filters from Recoleta to Park Station, in order to also provide water to the rest of the neighbourhood. This private undertaking became the first pure water service in the city, which until then had only been provided with rainwater or water brought by water carriers.