Buenos Aires and Ensenada Port Railway
| Company type | Company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Railway transport |
| Predecessor | La Boca and Barracas Railway |
| Founded | 1872 |
| Founder | William Wheelwright (by acquisition) |
| Defunct | 1898 |
| Fate | Absorbed by Buenos Aires Great Southern Railway |
| Successor | Buenos Aires Great Southern Railway |
| Headquarters | Buenos Aires , Argentina |
Area served | Buenos Aires Province, Argentina |
| Products | Rail transport services |
| Owner | British ownership |
The Buenos Aires & Ensenada Port Railway (BA&EP) (Spanish: Ferrocarril Buenos Aires y Puerto de la Ensenada) was a railway enterprise under British ownership that constructed and managed a broad gauge rail system in Argentina during the latter half of the 19th century. In 1898, this company was absorbed by its rival, the British-controlled Buenos Aires Great Southern Railway (BAGS).
Origins
In 1857, the Legislature of Buenos Aires Province granted a concession for building a railway initially named "La Boca and Barracas Railway," intended to connect Buenos Aires with Ensenada on the Río de la Plata, near La Plata, which became the provincial capital in 1882. The objective was to establish a rail link between Buenos Aires and the port of Ensenada, a vital hub for regional commerce.
By 1863, the concession passed to Brassey, Wythes & Wheelwright, a firm owned by American businessman William Wheelwright. At that time known as Ferrocarril de La Boca, construction commenced from the intersection of Paseo Colón Avenue and Venezuela Street, close to what is now Escuela Otto Krause.
Expansion
The initial endpoint of the line was Venezuela station, with trains operating over a viaduct that traversed Casa Amarilla, General Brown, and Barraca Peña, reaching Tres Esquinas station by September 1865. A branch line from General Brown to Muelle de La Boca was inaugurated one year later.
In 1872, the Buenos Aires and Ensenada Port Railway Company (BA&EP) was formed to take over the railway originally established by Wheelwright. That same year saw the opening of Central Station at Paseo de Julio Avenue and Piedad Street, serving as the line’s terminus. This station featured a contemporary wooden structure imported from Great Britain.
By April 18, 1872, tracks had been extended to Quilmes, crossing the Riachuelo via an iron bridge which was replaced by a wooden one after flood damage in 1884. The BA&E reached Ensenada on December 31, 1872, completing a 61-kilometer stretch; Argentine President Domingo Sarmiento was aboard for this inaugural journey.
Following La Plata's designation as provincial capital in 1882, the Buenos Aires Western Railway (BAWR), fully provincially owned, was tasked with connecting La Plata to the national rail network. BAWR constructed a line linking BA&E at Ensenada to La Plata through Tolosa and added a branch from Tolosa to Pereyra station in 1884. Construction of La Plata port began in 1883 adjacent to the BA&E dock and concluded in 1890. In 1889, BA&E erected a new station in Ensenada closer to this port facility.
In 1888, BAWR sold its Rufino de Elizalde–Magdalena branch to Buenos Aires, Ensenada & Costa Sud Railway (BAE&SC), which was under BA&E ownership. BAE&SC intended to expand service toward Tandil and Balcarce, entering competition with the British-owned Buenos Aires Great Southern Railway (BAGSR). An agreement restricted BAE&SC’s expansion beyond Chascomús; beyond this point BAGSR retained exclusive rights.
Nevertheless, BAE&SC did not proceed with further construction and suffered significantly from the financial crisis of 1890. The company leased its branch operations back to BA&E under terms requiring BA&E to meet prior obligations. BA&E planned a route from Arditi to Punta Piedras but only completed up to Punta Rieles station. In December 1892, Vieytes and Álvarez Jonte stations opened, extending service from Magdalena (later named "Empalme Magdalena") to Atalaya port. This extension officially commenced operations on November 1, 1893.
Final years
By late 1890, BA&E had taken over the Lomas de Tolosa (currently Ringuelet) to Ferrari (now Brandsen) segment from BAWR, which had also assumed control of routes servicing La Plata and nearby towns. Motivated by the inauguration of the Buenos Aires port in 1897, BA&E aimed to extend its operations from Ensenada station to La Plata port. This relocation of commercial focus toward Buenos Aires significantly disrupted BA&E’s activities centered around Ensenada.
In February 1897, Buenos Aires' Estación Central was destroyed by fire. As a temporary measure, BA&E reverted to its original terminal at Paseo Colón and Venezuela before moving operations to Casa Amarilla. As a result, the viaduct connecting Buenos Aires and Ensenada became obsolete and was eventually dismantled.
Following fierce rivalry with BAGS, BA&EP was ultimately absorbed by its competitor in 1898.
Railway branches
BA&E broadened its railway system through acquisitions from other entities. Prior to merging with BAGSR, the network included the following lines:
| Template:Center | |
| Line | Previous owner |
|---|---|
| Central Station[lower-alpha 1] − Ensenada | − |
| Ringuelet − Brandsen | BA Western |
| R. de Elizalde − Magdalena | BA Western |
| Magdalena − Atalaya Port | − |
| R. de Elizalde − Alvarez Jonte | − |
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