La Transatlántica Compañía de Tranvías Eléctricos, usually known simply as La Transatlántica, was a tramway company in Montevideo, Uruguay. Founded in 1907 with backing from AEG, it operated electric tram services in the city until its acquisition by Sociedad Comercial de Montevideo in 1928 and its full merger into that company in 1933.
History
On 1 June 1907, the German electrical concern AEG established La Transatlántica by taking over the horse-drawn companies Tranvía Oriental and Tranvía al Paso Molino y Cerro, with the aim of electrifying and unifying those services. The new electric network was inaugurated in early June 1907, and local transport chronologies date the opening of Line 1, between the Aduana and Paso Molino, to 3 June 1907.
As the system expanded, the company introduced large-capacity tramcars of European, especially German, design. In Montevideo they became especially associated with the company's yellow-and-brown livery.
La Transatlántica became one of the major operators in Montevideo's electric tramway system and was particularly identified with service to outlying districts in the west and northwest of the city. To encourage leisure travel and increase ridership, in 1910 the company developed Parque Capurro on land it owned, promoting the area as a bathing resort and recreational destination.
In 1926, under an agreement with the Uruguayan state, the company inaugurated a new electric tram service to Santiago Vázquez, designated Line E. It was the only tram route in Montevideo identified by a letter rather than a number.
In 1928 Sociedad Comercial de Montevideo acquired La Transatlántica, including Agraciada station, and the full merger was completed in 1933.
Infrastructure
La Transatlántica generated the electricity needed for its tram operations in its own power station in the Arroyo Seco district. The installation stood on the shore of Montevideo Bay, at the mouth of the Arroyo Seco, a position considered advantageous both for power generation and for transport logistics.
The company also maintained a group of stations and depots at different points in the city, noted for their architecture and engineering. Among the best known were Goes station in Goes, Agraciada station in Arroyo Seco, Artigas station in Parque Rodó, and Larrobla station in Capurro. Besides their operational and maintenance functions, these facilities became important landmarks in Montevideo's tramway infrastructure.
Lines The following routes are attributed to the company in local transport chronologies:
Line Route E Palacio de Gobierno – Santiago Vázquez 1 Aduana – Paso Molino 3 Aduana – Villa Muñoz 7 Palacio de Gobierno – Playa Ramírez 8 Aduana – Malvín 9 Pérez Castellano – Playa Ramírez 10 Aduana – Cordón 13 Aduana – Hipódromo de Maroñas 14 Larrañaga – Playa Ramírez 15 Pocitos – Paso Molino 16 Aduana – Cerro 17 Aduana – Piedras Blancas 18 Garibaldi – Playa Ramírez 19 Goes station – Playa Ramírez 20 Palacio de Gobierno – Atahualpa 21 Ciudadela – Capurro
See also Rail transport in Uruguay
References