Madeira-Mamoré Railway Museum
Rondônia
The Madeira-Mamoré Railway Museum, located in Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil, is a thematic museum dedicated to preserving the history and artifacts of the Madeira-Mamoré Railway, also known as the "Devil's Railway." This railway was constructed in the early 20th century and is considered one of the most challenging engineering projects globally, comparable to the Panama Canal, due to the difficult Amazonian terrain and high human cost. The museum's complex includes several original railway installations such as the large workshop building that housed mechanical, carpentry, painting, and foundry operations essential for railway maintenance. Notable features include the rotunda used to turn locomotives for repairs. The museum also includes two large warehouses originally used for loading and unloading goods along the Madeira River, now housing the museum's collection. The Porto Velho station, built in 1912, served as a passenger and freight hub and is part of the museum's historical ensemble. The railway played a crucial role during the Amazon rubber boom, facilitating latex extraction and regional development. The museum offers visitors a tangible connection to this significant period in Amazonian and Brazilian history, highlighting the railway's strategic importance and the human stories behind its construction.
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Astuce: The best time to visit the Madeira-Mamoré Railway Museum is during the dry season from June to August to avoid heavy rains common in the region. Visitors are encouraged to book guided tours if available to fully appreciate the technical and historical significance of the railway. Tickets can often be purchased on-site, but checking in advance for any special exhibitions or events is recommended. The museum is accessible by road within Porto Velho, and visitors should prepare for tropical weather conditions. Discounts may be available for students, seniors, or large groups, so inquire locally.
Faits intéressants
- •The Madeira-Mamoré Railway is often compared to the Panama Canal in terms of engineering difficulty and human cost.
- •The railway was nicknamed "Devil's Railway" due to the high number of worker fatalities during its construction.
- •The museum's workshop building includes a rotunda used to turn locomotives, a rare and significant piece of railway technology.
- •Two warehouses used for loading and unloading along the Madeira River are now part of the museum and house its collections.
- •The railway was a strategic project linked to the Brazil-Bolivia Acre dispute and the Amazon rubber boom.
Histoire
The Madeira-Mamoré Railway was built between 1908 and 1912 as part of a strategic effort to connect the Amazon region and facilitate the rubber trade.
Its construction was marked by extreme difficulties, including harsh tropical conditions and a high death toll among workers, which earned it the nickname "Devil's Railway." The railway was crucial during the first rubber boom and later during the second rubber boom in World War II.
After the decline of rubber's economic importance, the railway's use diminished.
The museum preserves this legacy, with its buildings and artifacts reflecting the industrial and social history of the early 20th century Amazon.
Guide du lieu
Workshop Building1908-1912
The largest and most complex building in the museum complex, constructed between 1908 and 1912. It housed mechanical, foundry, carpentry, painting, sawmill, and bodywork operations essential for railway maintenance and community repairs. The rotunda at the entrance was used to direct locomotives and cars for repair inside the workshop.
RotundaEarly 20th century
A turntable located at the workshop entrance used to turn locomotives and railway cars to align them with repair bays inside the workshop. It is a key feature demonstrating the railway's technical infrastructure.
Cargo Warehouses1912 and 1943
Two warehouses built on the banks of the Madeira River, measuring 50m by 20m each. The first was built in 1912 and the second in 1943 to support increased rubber production during World War II. They served as storage for goods supplying rubber plantations and for shipping extracted products.
Porto Velho Station1912
The original railway station built in 1912 for ticket sales, passenger boarding and disembarking, document dispatch, and communication. Constructed with brick masonry, wooden windows, and French-style clay tiles, the station was later used as a museum before the collection was moved to the warehouses.
Contact
Téléphone: (69) 99989-4690
