Ferrocarril Económico Correntino
| Company type | State-owned |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Founded | 1892 |
| Defunct | 1969 |
| Fate | Line shut down and dismantled |
| Headquarters | Corrientes , Argentina |
| Products | Passenger and freight railway services |
Ferrocarril Económico Correntino was the colloquial designation for a set of former narrow gauge State-owned railways in Corrientes Province, Argentina, which operated on a track gauge.
The locomotives were powered by firewood and reached a top speed of 20 km/h, making the journey between Corrientes and Mburucuyá last almost 26 hours over the distance.
The initial railway, known as "Ferrocarril Primer Correntino," functioned from 1892 until 1904. After its closure, some sections of track were dismantled, while the remaining parts continued to serve freight needs for the nearby sugar cane factory. The second railway, "Compañía General de Ferrocarriles Económicos de la Provincia de Corrientes," operated from 1912 until its purchase by the Corrientes Government in 1927, after which it was renamed "Ferrocarril Provincial de Corrientes."
Following the nationalization of Argentine railways in 1948, FCEC became part of the General Urquiza Railway. The line was ultimately shut down permanently in 1969 and subsequently dismantled.
The Bolla railway
Francisco Bolla, an Italian businessman and owner of the sugar mill "Ingenio Primer Correntino," obtained a concession in 1890 to construct and operate a 600mm-gauge steam railway intended for both passenger and freight transport. The provincial government granted land use rights and a 30-year exemption from duties, with the condition that at least three weekly trains run, and fares be regulated by provincial authorities.
The first segment connecting Primer Correntino mill to San Luis del Palmar commenced operations on September 23, 1892. However, unauthorized expansions toward Arroyo Riachuelito and Corrientes city caused construction to be halted in 1896. Work recommenced later that year under revised concession agreements.
By 1898, the line linking Corrientes to San Luis del Palmar was completed and officially opened, covering . The railway operated three steam engines—two manufactured by German company Krauss and one from Belgian firm Tubize.
After Bolla’s company declared bankruptcy in 1904, services stopped, the concession was revoked, and most tracks were removed except for the San Cosme-Paso de la Patria stretch and a branch leading to Puerto Italia. The remaining section running from Primer Correntino mill to San Cosme continued freight operations until its final closure in 1969.
Dodero's administration
A new law passed in 1908 awarded shipping magnate Carlos Dodero the concession to extend the railway. By 1909, construction began to lengthen the line reaching Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Caá Catí, where General Paz station was established. After acquiring rolling stock and related properties, the line officially opened in 1912.
Tracks between Primer Correntino mill and Corrientes station had been previously removed and required reconstruction. Additionally, a 178-kilometer branch was built from Lomas de Vallejos to Mburucuyá. These projects were supervised by Italian engineer Mauro Herlitzka.
Among the locomotives purchased was a German-built Orenstein & Koppel 0-6-0, which has been operational at Tren del Fin del Mundo in Ushuaia since 1993. Comparable locomotives are exhibited at stations in Concordia, Paraná, as well as at the Scalabrini Ortiz Railway Museum located in Retiro, Buenos Aires.
Final period
After the unsuccessful management by Dodero, control of the railway passed to Banco Francés del Río de la Plata and subsequently to the Provincial Government in 1927. The line was incorporated into the national network in 1948 during Juan Perón's presidency, becoming a segment of the General Urquiza Railway. Due to ongoing neglect and damage caused by floods, the government decided to cease operations in 1969, leading to the complete dismantling of the railway.
In 2009, attempts were initiated to revive train services between Santa Ana de los Guácaras and the Primer Correntino mill; however, these initiatives did not come to fruition.