The south façade - is this where the train arrived?

Aranjuez - Madrid: the first steps of the Railway in Spain

Tomás Ruiz is a citizen of Aranjuez, a great connoisseur of the Cultural Landscape and its history. Tomás also knows many of the anecdotes that surrounded Aranjuez's palatial life during the kings' stay in the city.

Tomás tells us in the video below how, during the reign of Isabel II, the second railway line in Spain was built between Madrid and Aranjuez. This event was a feat of great modernity and progress for the city, which was accompanied by the fact that Elizabeth II spent long periods of time on this royal site.

In 1851, the line was inaugurated and Tomás tells us how there were many references in the press at that time. The anecdote is that, the royal photographer was indisposed that day and it is not known whether, as it is said, the Convoy came to pass to the very entrance door of the Royal Palace of Aranjuez or moved towards the south façade. Today, despite the existence of print and print media at that time, historians do not know where the Aranjuez train arrived on its inaugural journey.

The Strawberry Train from Madrid to Aranjuez follows the old Madrid to Aranjuez rail route (the second railway to be built in Spain and the first in the Region of Madrid) every Saturday and Sunday in Spring and Autumn, and leaves from the capital's former Delicias station, today the site of the Madrid Railway Museum.. – © Andrés Gómez - Club Ferroviario 241

For more information about the historic Strawberry Train visit Museo del Ferrocarril.