Chile's first railway opens

On August 2, 1852, Chile celebrated the opening of its first railway, a 50-mile line linking the Pacific port of Caldera to the silver-mining center of Copiapó across the Atacama Desert. American promoter William Wheelwright secured financing and imported British 0-4-0 steam locomotives and iron rails. Engineers overcame extreme aridity by hauling water in tank cars and building wooden trestles over dry ravines. The inaugural train carried dignitaries and miners, dramatically cutting travel time from days to hours and enabling bulk copper shipments that fueled Chile's export economy. This project ignited South American rail fever, inspiring lines in Peru and Argentina. Today, preserved locomotives and sections of grade serve as heritage reminders of early industrial expansion.