One of the most important railway lines of the 19th century was the one that linked Arganda del Rey with Madrid. Although it fell into disuse in the 1950s, the old steam locomotives were preserved and restored in 2001. Today, a train runs along one of the sections of the historic line.
This narrow-gauge line (it was only one metre wide) was inaugurated in 1886 to link Madrid with the town of Arganda del Rey. Its carriages could carry passengers as well as goods. Known as the Tajuña railway, the line was a very important communication axis for the area, but in the 1950s, new connections made the old train obsolete. Since then, the line fell into disuse until, finally, in 1997, the last section that was still active was closed.
Four years later, in 2001, the Community of Madrid decided to open the section between La Poveda station and Laguna de Campillo. The reopening of the track was a historic recovery and an important tourist attraction. Shortly afterwards, two old locomotives manufactured at the beginning of the 20th century, known by the names of Arganda and Ávila, were restored and are still in service.
The train, managed by the non-profit association Centro de Iniciativas Ferroviarias Vapor Madrid (CIFVM), continues its journey. Every weekend it travels around four kilometres in a 45-minute journey at a reduced speed. On its route it crosses the Southeast Regional Park, one of the scenes of the Jarama battle, as well as the Arganda del Rey bridge, the longest metallic railway bridge in the Community of Madrid.
The stamp shows a perfectly restored steam train moving through the present-day Madrid landscape.
