After 20 Years Abandoned, 1936 Maria Fumaça of Madeira-Mamoré Railway Returns to Whistle on the Tracks During Porto Velho's 111th Anniversary

After 20 Years Abandoned, 1936 Maria Fumaça of Madeira-Mamoré Railway Returns to Whistle on the Tracks During Porto Velho’s 111th Anniversary

Written by Maria Heloisa Barbosa Borges

Published on 02/10/2025 at 16:58

A Maria Fumaça de 1936 volta à ferrovia Madeira-Mamoré em Porto Velho após 20 anos, locomotiva restaurada que resgata história e impulsiona turismo.

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Historic Locomotive of the Madeira-Mamoré Railway Has Been Restored and Returns to the Tracks as a Cultural and Tourist Symbol of the Capital of Rondônia.

The Maria Fumaça of 1936 has returned to bring life to the tracks of the Madeira-Mamoré Railway in Porto Velho (RO), after two decades of abandonment. The locomotive, a rare piece of Brazilian railway historical heritage, was restored and gained prominence in the celebrations of the 111 years of the capital of Rondônia.

According to the portal Turismo.ig, the recovery project involved eight professionals, including three engineers from the Brazilian Association of Railway Preservation (ABPF), responsible for tourist trains in several regions of the country. The public was able to hear the traditional whistle of the locomotive once again, even though it was on a symbolic 50-meter route, operated only by one engineer and the fireman in charge of the boiler.

The Recovery of the Maria Fumaça

The restoration process of the Maria Fumaça of 1936 began in August of this year and required almost complete disassembly of the locomotive.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW

Plans for the Future of the Railway

The City Hall of Porto Velho plans to reactivate the 8 km tourist ride between the capital and the district of Santo Antônio, where the Marechal Rondon Museum is located.

This route, which was suspended in 1999, depends on the recovery of sections of the railway damaged by floods in 2014.

Built between 1907 and 1912, the Madeira-Mamoré Railway is known as the “Death Railway” due to the extreme conditions faced by workers at the time.

Even so, it became a symbol of integration and development in the region, helping to transport rubber produced in Brazil and Bolivia.

Tourism and Historical Preservation

After 20 years abandoned, Maria Fumaça of 1936 from the Madeira-Mamoré Railway returns to whistle on the tracks during the 111 years of Porto Velho — **Maria Fumaça of 1936**

In addition to the Maria Fumaça, the railway complex in Porto Velho offers free rides on a diesel-powered railcar.

The trip covers 800 meters within the railway yard and accommodates up to 11 passengers at a time, operating on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

The space is also set to receive new tourist attractions, such as the installation of a restaurant in the roundhouse, strengthening the cultural vocation of the area.

The return of the Maria Fumaça of 1936 is more than just a restoration of historical heritage: it is also a strategic step to enhance tourism in Rondônia and reinforce the cultural identity of Porto Velho.

The return of the locomotive to the tracks rekindles memories of a time when the railway was essential for the Amazon region.

More than just a ride, it is about keeping alive the historical heritage of Porto Velho.

And you, do you believe that initiatives like this can boost tourism and strengthen cultural preservation in Brazil? Or do you think the investment should have another destination? Leave your opinion in the comments, we want to hear from those who experience this in practice.

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After 20 Years Abandoned, 1936 Maria Fumaça of Madeira-Mamoré Railway Returns to Whistle on the Tracks During Porto Velho’s 111th Anniversary

Historic Locomotive of the Madeira-Mamoré Railway Has Been Restored and Returns to the Tracks as a Cultural and Tourist Symbol of the Capital of Rondônia.

The Recovery of the Maria Fumaça

Plans for the Future of the Railway

Tourism and Historical Preservation

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After 20 Years Abandoned, 1936 Maria Fumaça of Madeira-Mamoré Railway Returns to Whistle on the Tracks During Porto Velho’s 111th Anniversary

Historic Locomotive of the Madeira-Mamoré Railway Has Been Restored and Returns to the Tracks as a Cultural and Tourist Symbol of the Capital of Rondônia.

The Recovery of the Maria Fumaça

Plans for the Future of the Railway

Tourism and Historical Preservation

Engineers want to carve through Africa with a giant canal to bring water from the world’s second-largest river to a dying lake on the edge of the Sahara Desert that has already lost 90% of its water.

A giant brown band visible from space, approximately 8,850 kilometers long, connected Africa to America in the Atlantic Ocean, and satellites revealed that it is neither land nor pollution, but the largest accumulation of seaweed in the world, which broke records in 2025.

Brazil filled the Northeast with wind turbines but now faces the side effect of 705 giant blades reaching the end of their lifespan by 2032 just in Rio Grande do Norte, while the world projects 43 million tons of waste by 2050.

India approved the country’s first submerged road-rail tunnel, 15.8 kilometers dug under the bed of the Brahmaputra River.

Instead of burning or burying old tires, an American city is transforming about 2,000 of them into the street itself, paving its first sections with a quieter and more durable rubber asphalt.

In just one cast, fishermen are surprised to capture 14,096 mullets in Bombinhas and close a historic season with 58,000 fish; scene recorded in the Santa Catarina paradise marks the last day of the 2026 season.

10 giant tortoises are reintroduced and, in just 6 months, trigger changes that lead scientists to investigate a phenomenon absent for 180 years; the numbers recorded on the island impress researchers from around the world.

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