First rail line opens in Costa Rica

On July 22, 1862, the first operational section of Costa Rica's railroad system began service between Puntarenas and Esparza. This British-financed project overcame dense jungle terrain and tropical conditions using early steam locomotives imported from England. The line laid groundwork for coffee export routes that transformed the economy, connecting Pacific ports to San José by the 1890s and spurring further infrastructure growth across Central America.