The cog-wheel railway construction to Corcovado Mountain started in Rio de Janeiro in 1883 and while slavery in Brazil would be abolished a few years later (in 1888), the builders had already agreed not to use slaves during the construction project unless those slaves were properly compensated for their labor.
The railway was completed and inaugurated in 1884 by the second Emperor of Brazil, Pedro II, and for decades thereafter tourists and locals alike went up to the top of Corcovado Mountain to enjoy the views of Rio de Janeiro and to picnic. There was no Christ statue at this time.
Corcovado railway was the first to be built in Brazil exclusively for tourist purposes and the first electrified railway in the country. The project was so well designed that it stands today as a true engineering wonder and accomplishment. The current Swiss-made trains are very safe and have four different kinds of brakes.
The railway finances have not always been healthy, though. For example, in 1903, the railway was declared bankrupt due to huge debts, but eventually recovered.
Today, The Corcovado Railway is a success, carrying up to 3,500 passengers in a single day! That may sound a lot, but it is not enough to meet the demand on the peak days and extreme peak days. Because of that, the Corcovado Railway Company plans to replace the current trains with ones with a higher capacity.
Train/railway basic facts
- • Capacity: 360 passengers per hour
- • Speed uphill: 15 km (9.3 mi) per hour
- • Speed downhill: 12 km (7.5 mi) per hour
- • Railway length: 3,829 km (2,373 mi)
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