The road actually dates from the year 1882, when the first section, from the port of Acajutla to the town of Sonsonate, one of the most important in the Republic, and situated at about fifty miles' distance from the capital, was opened for traffic. The distance was 20 kilometres, or, say, 121⁄2 miles, the next section to be finished being that from Sonsonate to Armenia, a further distance of 261⁄4 kilometres, or 161⁄2 miles, thus bringing up the constructed line to 461⁄4 kilometres by the end of September, 1884.
From then onwards the rate of construction was as follows: From Armenia to Amate Marin, 61⁄2 kilometres, or 4 miles, opened for traffic September, 1886; from Amate Marin to Ateos, 31⁄4 kilometres, or 2 miles, January, 1887; from Ateos to La Ceiba, and which forms a branch ending at this town, a distance of 10 kilometres, or 61⁄4 miles, March, 1890; from Ateos to La Joya, a distance of 22 kilometres, or 131⁄2 miles, opened to traffic on September 15, 1895; and from La Joya to Santa Ana—a very important town of some 33,000 inhabitants—a distance of 29 kilometres, or 18 miles, opened in November, 1896.
From Santa Ana, which is another terminal point, the railway receives a valuable freight in the form of agricultural produce, such as coffee, sugar, tobacco, and various kinds of grain.
A continuation of the line was then made to the capital, San Salvador, the extension from Sitio-del-Niño to Nejapa, one of 18 kilometres, or, say, 11 miles, being opened for traffic in February, 1898; while the last section, between Nejapa and San Salvador, a distance of 20 kilometres, or 121⁄2 miles, was completed by the month of March, 1900. The total distance of the track is, therefore, 155 kilometres, or 961⁄4 miles, exclusive of sidings. There are some eighteen stations, including the terminals at Acajutla, Santa Ana, and San Salvador; while the buildings, both here and at Sonsonate, Sitio-del-Niño, and Quezaltepeque, are well built and efficient structures in every way.
The gauge of the track is 3 feet, and the maximum gradient one of 3·75 per cent. The minimum curve radius is 359 feet 3 inches. The interesting engineering features of the line are many, and these are found for the most part upon the Santa Ana section, between that town and Sitio-del-Niño. There are forty-one bridges, consisting of through-truss, plate-girder, and rolled "I" beams. These run from 20 to 14 feet span, the makers who have supplied them including German, Belgian, British, and American contractors. The principal bridges are as follows:
| Span. | Made by —— | ||
| At Kilometre 78·700 | Deck-plate girder bridge | 56 ft. | Aug. Lecoq, Hal, Belgium. |
| At Kilometre 82·600 | Through-span girder bridge | 78 ft. | Harkort, Duisberg, Germany. |
| At Kilometre 98·500 | Through-span girder bridge | 70 ft. | San Francisco Bridge Company. |
| At Kilometre 188·700 | Through-deck girder bridge | 140 ft. | Atliérs de Construction, A. Lecoq, Hal, Belgium. |
| At Kilometre 191·700 | Through-deck girder bridge | 140 ft. | Atliérs de Construction, A. Lecoq, Hal, Belgium. |
There are a number of culverts, over sixty-six being of some importance, besides several of minor interest, of 3 feet and under. The road is exceedingly well ballasted from beginning to end, and is maintained in an altogether efficient manner of repair and orderliness.
SALVADOR RAILWAY
TO ACCOMPANY
SALVADOR OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY BY
PERCY F. MARTIN, F.R.G.S.