And while we are still on the subject of railway horology (which is
like, everyday) here is another amazing find. A porcelain pocket watch
dial signed Ferrocarril de Antioquia. Unfortunately this is the
only thing that is left of this 1930’s railroad pocket watch.
Nevertheless it is the first piece of South American railway horology I
have found which now completes all the continents.
I am not going to spoil your enjoyment by re-telling the story of the Colombian railway that took 40 years to complete and was 50km in length. Of course this is still faster and cheaper than the Sydney light rail project. But here is one detail worth sharing: The main opposition to the railway in Antioquia was based on the superstition of the local population and the fear that a roaring locomotive will bring an unfathomable curse upon them. So when locomotive no. 1 derailed and disappeared into the abyss, the replacement locomotive, no. 2, had to be repainted and renumbered to look exactly like no. 1 to prevent mass hysteria.
Ferrocarril went out of business in the 1960’s. To find a complete original Colombian railway watch is now on top of my priority list!
I am not going to spoil your enjoyment by re-telling the story of the Colombian railway that took 40 years to complete and was 50km in length. Of course this is still faster and cheaper than the Sydney light rail project. But here is one detail worth sharing: The main opposition to the railway in Antioquia was based on the superstition of the local population and the fear that a roaring locomotive will bring an unfathomable curse upon them. So when locomotive no. 1 derailed and disappeared into the abyss, the replacement locomotive, no. 2, had to be repainted and renumbered to look exactly like no. 1 to prevent mass hysteria.
Ferrocarril went out of business in the 1960’s. To find a complete original Colombian railway watch is now on top of my priority list!
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