First Railway in Chile Opens

On August 3, 1846, Chile inaugurated its first railway, a 25-mile line connecting the port of Caldera with the mining town of Copiapó in the Atacama Desert. Engineered by American William Wheelwright and powered by British-built locomotives, this narrow-gauge line overcame harsh desert conditions and steep grades using innovative switchbacks. It marked South America's earliest railway and boosted the nitrate and copper mining industries, facilitating exports that fueled Chile's economic growth. The project demonstrated how rail infrastructure could transform remote regions, inspiring further lines across the Andes and connecting to broader 19th-century globalization of trade.