They say that the morning was like today, rainy and dark, but not even the bad weather stopped the first departure of a train in Cuba, on the Havana-Bejucal railway segment. It was November 19th, 1837 and the small Caribbean island became the seventh nation in the world to travel the iron road.

To commemorate such an important event, which brought progress and development to the country, several generations of railway workers from Camaguey gathered in the museum that, still under construction, already treasures part of the historical memory of that union, in the city of the waterpots.

At the meeting, the retirees told about their experiences, the traditions of discipline and fraternity that always characterized the railway family, while they urged the younger generations to repair as much machinery as possible to achieve an excellent service, as it was years ago.

Voices of experience and heirs

Tahis Ravento is the commercial director of the Company and the youngest in that department. When she started working there, about two years ago, she says she fell in love with the railroad. She thinks that retirees worked hard in their time, now it is up to young people to promote the sector so that it flourishes as in its golden age, when the best trip to the capital, without a doubt, was by train.

José Noya Escobar was a technical director of the Ciego-Camagüey-Las Tunas railroad segment in the 90s. He speaks passionately about the schools of improvement, which no longer exist today and expresses his concern for the training of specialties, so important to form prepared men, because without them “the train does not work.”

Meanwhile, Engineer Carlos Sanz, commented on the innovation he developed in the wheels and axles (the tru) of some cars and in the design of others. We also spoke with Fátima de la Caridad Carrillo, a retiree who belonged to the first generation of engineers linked to the railroad and who dedicated more than 30 years to the sector, for which she feels a special pride and joy due to its progress.

Crossroads to the future

Rescuing all the railway tradition and heritage that live in many families from Camagüey is the purpose of Pedro Salcedo, Company Development specialist, who led this meeting between experts and beginners, to share their experiences in order to bring progress to the iron road.

Translated by: Aileen Álvarez García