Chapala Depot - Chapala, Jalisco MX
Posted by: bluesneaky
N 20° 17.556 W 103° 10.974
13Q E 689748 N 2244904
A rail line that was in business for only 6 years served this depot in the 1920's
Waymark Code: WME21Q
Location: Jalisco, Mexico
Date Posted: 03/23/2012
Views: 2
The depot was built in 1920 and from (
visit link) comes the following information on Chapala's old railroad depot:
Permission was granted in 1920 for Norwegian Christian Shejetnan to extend a railroad line from Atequiza, Jalisco to Chapala. "The train ran daily... an engine, five red wagons with red velvet seats... carrying passengers morning and afternoon to and from Chapala and La Capilla, where connections could be made to Mexico City," says June Nay Summers' in her book. The train station was built by a civil engineer, Mr. de Alba in the 20s. In 1925 Lake Chapala rose a full meter and flooded the station. The train operated for only a short time - not only because of the flood, but because a paved road was built from Guadalajara to Chapala through Ixtlahuacan, which shortened the driving time to three hours. In 1926 railroad operations ceased. After many years of discussion, the railway station has now been restored to its former glory. The inauguration celebrations were held in March 2006 and the railway station now houses a historic museum and cultural center.