History
Jorge Wirshing (grandson of sugar-cane growers, with a bachelor and master in Business Management and work experience for Serrallés Distillery in Ponce) first bought in 1937 the Glover-2-6-2T locomotive from Mercedita Sugar Mill at Ponce for US$581.25 and later the Baldwin 2-8-0 locomotive in 1967 from C. Brewer of Puerto Rico (after withdrawn from service in sugar-cane hauling railway between Pasto Viejo Sugar Mill (Humacao), Juncos Sugar Mill and Santa Juanita Sugar Mill (Caguas), where it was finally stored) for purpose of developing an heritage railroad to attract tourists on steam engine railroading in a time when steam-powered locomotives in Puerto Rico's sugar-mill railways were replaced by diesel-powered ones. Meanwhile, in 1970, Mr. Wirshing got a loan from Fomento (Puerto Rico Economic Development Administration) and permits from Land Authority of Puerto Rico for using the Paraiso branch (southwest of Fajardo Sugar Mill) of the former Fajardo Development Company Railroad now owned by the Puerto Rican Government attached to Central Fajardo operations. In April 1971 started the construction of the spur for storage of Glover and Baldwin locomotives, water and fuel tanks and the station building for Ferrocarril Histórico office, ticket window, washrooms, souvenir shop and cafeteria. After months of trial runs and refitting five Gregg cane cars to passenger wagons, the tourist train started passenger rides on September 4, 1971. Because the sugar harvest, from January to June the Ferrocarril Histórico operated Sundays only; the rest of year it operated on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and certain holidays. The adult fare was US$1.75 and the ride took about one hour. The scheduled ride hours are: 11:00am – 12:30pm – 2:10pm – 3:40pm – 5:00pm.Engine Roster
In 1972, the locomotive inventory in the Ferrocarril Histórico consisted of eight steam engines: * Baldwin 2-8-0 Locomotive, ex-Central Pasto Viejo engine No. 8 (9-1927) (36-tons) (Central Juncos No. 8, Eastern Sugar Associates No. 8, Fajardo Eastern Sugar Associates No. 8)(ex-C. Brewer of PR E462), called "Luisa". * Glover 2-6-2T Locomotive, ex-Closure and fate of steam engines
As result of flood damages on October 25, 1974, the Ferrocarril Histórico facilities were damaged, forcing its permanent closure for a lack of financial help from insurance, the government, and banks. To liquidate debts from operations, the two Glover 2-6-2T Locomotive and Baldwin 2-8-0 LocomotiveReferences
Sources
* * Number 43, Second Quarter, 1972. Retrieved 18 February 2021. * (Photos of the Ferrocarril Histórico station and railway equipment before and after damage by floods. Note: In original publication, is cited: "Damage by Tropical Storm Eloisa (1975)" but this storm came one year later than actual rivers floods that damaged the Ferrocarril Histórico park and machinery in October 1974.) * (Personal narration of Roger Aponte about experiencies in the Ferrocarril Histórico.) * (Entry about the Baldwin 2-8-0 Locomotive "Luisa" steam engine of the Ferrocarril Histórico posted on January 31, 2014.) (in Spanish) * (Entry about the fate of the two Ferrocarril Histórico's former Glover Locomotive and Baldwin Locomotive steam engines now in the Caracas Transport Museum in Venezuela.) * (Brochure, full color photos and map of the Ferrocarril Histórico.) * (Note: The Fajardo Development Company was the sugar company who owned the Fajardo Sugar Mill and the tracks used by the Ferrocarril Histórico.) * (Original footage of the Ferrocarril Histórico Park and train in movement.) 1971 establishments in Puerto Rico 1974 disestablishments in Puerto Rico Railway lines opened in 1971 Railway lines closed in 1974 Puerto Rico railroads Railway lines in Puerto Rico Passenger rail transport in Puerto Rico Heritage railroads in Puerto Rico Tourist attractions in Puerto Rico Narrow gauge railroads in Puerto Rico Metre gauge railways Sugar mill railways {{PuertoRico-stub