Bahía Blanca and North Western Railway
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Railway transport |
| Founded | May 1889 |
| Founder | Luis D'Abreu (concession), later owned by John Meiggs & Co. and Bahía Blanca & North Western Railway Corporation |
| Fate | Acquired by Buenos Aires and Pacific Railway in 1904; sold to Buenos Aires Great Southern Railway in 1924 |
| Headquarters | Bahía Blanca , Argentina |
Area served | Buenos Aires, Córdoba, San Luis, La Pampa provinces, Argentina |
| Products | Railway transport services |
The Bahía Blanca and North Western Railway () was a railway enterprise under British ownership operating within Argentina. Although originally intended to link the provinces of Buenos Aires, Córdoba, and San Luis, the railway ultimately extended only to Toay in La Pampa and Huinca Renancó in Córdoba. Notably, it was the pioneering railway to reach the La Pampa region.
History
On September 29, 1887, Portuguese merchant Luis D'Abreu obtained a railway concession through Law N° 2097, which he subsequently transferred to the British companies John Meiggs & Co. and finally to the "Bahía Blanca & North Western Railway Corporation." Founded in May 1889, this corporation held rights for constructing lines from Bahía Blanca to Río Cuarto (in collaboration with the Andean Railway) and to Villa Mercedes (in partnership with the Buenos Aires and Pacific Railway). These routes traversed several towns in La Pampa such as General Acha, La Verde, Toay, and Victorica. The objective was to develop a broad gauge (5 ft 6 in) regional rail system featuring branches that would connect with major trunk lines near Buenos Aires and extend feeder lines westward.
The terminal station at Bahía Blanca was designed by architects Alejandro Christophersen and Carl August Kihlberg and opened its doors in 1891. That same year, President Carlos Pellegrini authorized construction of the segment between Bahía Blanca and Bernasconi, establishing BB&NWR as the first railway to enter La Pampa. Approval was also granted in 1891 for the Bernasconi-Hucal section, with the track reaching Toay by 1897.
In 1904, Law N° 4300 allowed for building the Nueva Roma-Puán branch. That year, President Julio Roca authorized the Buenos Aires and Pacific Railway to lease BB&NWR; subsequent expansions toward Villa Mercedes and Río Cuarto were undertaken by BA & Pacific. Additionally, National Congress Law N° 4481 mandated BB&NWR to construct feeder lines to Nueva Roma and Catriló.
The Buenos Aires and Pacific Railway acquired BB&NWR in 1904. By 1908, the railway extended its line to Huinca Renancó in Córdoba province, linking with the Buenos Aires Western Railway network. In 1924, BA & Pacific sold BB&NWR to the Buenos Aires Great Southern Railway.
Aftermath
The Bahía Blanca ("Noroeste") station building, which had served as a municipal library and was utilized by local murga ensembles, suffered destruction due to a fire caused by an electrical short circuit in April 2022. Following this incident, the historic edifice was demolished.
Bibliography
- British Steam on the Pampas by D.S. Purdom - Mechanical Engineering Publications Ltd (London, 1977)
- British Railways in Argentina: 1857-1914 - A Case Study of Foreign Investment by Colin M. Lewis - Athlone Press (Institute of Latin American Studies, University of London, 1983)