Sapucai Railway Workshops

The Paraguay Central Railway was built with British capital and engineering from the 1850s onward, and its main workshops at Sapucai were laid out in the 1890s with machinery shipped from England: lathes, planers, drills and a steam-driven line shaft running the length of the shed, along with a foundry and a smithy. The line ceased operating in the 2000s and the workshops were left with the machinery in place, the tools on the benches and steam locomotives standing on the tracks outside, which is what makes the site remarkable: it is an intact Victorian industrial ensemble rather than a museum assembled from parts. Guides from the community show the sheds and occasionally run the line shaft.

What you actually see

• The machine shop - the lathes and planers on the original line shaft.
• Steam locomotives - the engines standing on the tracks outside.
• The foundry and smithy - the metalworking buildings of the works.
• Tools in place - the benches left as they were when work stopped.

When to go

April to October in the cooler months; the sheds are hot in summer. Guides are arranged at the site and visits are usually guided. Weekdays are quiet. Occasional steam events are announced locally.

Honest expectations

The buildings and machinery are deteriorating and conservation is limited. Locomotives are static and not steamed except on rare occasions. Guiding depends on someone being present. The town has few facilities.

Nearby

Paraguari lies west; Piribebuy is north.