Trans-Andean Railway first section opens

On July 14, 1891, the Trans-Andean Railway inaugurated its first operational section between Mendoza, Argentina, and Las Cuevas, a critical step toward linking the Atlantic and Pacific coasts via the Andes. Engineer Juan E. Clark led the project, overcoming extreme altitudes, avalanches, and grades exceeding 8 percent with Abt rack systems and custom 0-6-2T locomotives. This international line boosted trade in wine, minerals, and passengers, symbolizing South American engineering ambition amid 19th-century nation-building. Its dramatic switchbacks and snowsheds later inspired countless model railroad layouts replicating Andean scenery. Though closed in 1984, restoration efforts continue, preserving its legacy as a pioneering mountain railway.