After 40 Years of Neglect, Historic 130-Year-Old Railway Roundhouse to Receive Million-Dollar Restoration in Minas Gerais

Written by Romário Pereira de Carvalho

Published on 03/09/2025 at 14:36

As obras começam em 15 de setembro e têm prazo de 14 meses — Foto: Ministério Público de Minas Gerais/Divulgação

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After Almost Four Decades of Abandonment, Ribeirão Vermelho Railway Rotunda Will Receive Historical Restoration with Investment of R$ 2.9 Million and Cultural Actions

Built between 1895 and 1897, the Ribeirão Vermelho railway rotunda (MG) will undergo recovery work after almost 40 years of abandonment. The site, listed in 2014 by the State Institute of Historical and Artistic Heritage of Minas Gerais (Iepha), will receive an investment of R$ 2.9 million for restoration. The project will be executed by the Association of Architects Without Borders (ASF Brasil).

According to the Public Ministry, the work will begin on September 15. The city hall, however, states that the start is scheduled for January.

The estimated completion time is 14 months. In addition to structural recovery, the work includes actions for heritage education and activities to engage the local community.

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Historical Heritage

The rotunda is a circular construction 75 meters in diameter, made with materials imported from Scotland and France.

For decades, it served for the maintenance of the Western Minas Railway, receiving steam locomotives for repairs.

Even after the deactivation of the mechanical park in 1965, the space continued in use as a storage area until 1985. Therefore, since then, the structure has suffered from weathering.

In addition, the architectural complex of the city includes the railway station, the river station, workshops, a coffee mill, and other buildings of the former Western Minas Agricultural and Industrial Company.

Origin of Funding

The funding allocated for the work is part of a Conduct Adjustment Term (TAC) signed between Gerdau and the Public Ministry of Minas Gerais (MPMG). This agreement provides for environmental compensations in various regions of the state.

The document was signed by the Prosecutor’s Offices of the involved jurisdictions. It also included participation from the Operational Support Center of the Prosecutor’s Offices for the Defense of the Environment (Caoma) and regional coordinations linked to Minas Gerais’ river basins.

The expectation is that the restoration will return to the municipality a historical heritage of great cultural value, reinforcing the railway memory of Minas Gerais.

With information from G1.

After 40 Years of Neglect, Historic 130-Year-Old Railway Roundhouse to Receive Million-Dollar Restoration in Minas Gerais

After Almost Four Decades of Abandonment, Ribeirão Vermelho Railway Rotunda Will Receive Historical Restoration with Investment of R$ 2.9 Million and Cultural Actions

Historical Heritage

Origin of Funding

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After 40 Years of Neglect, Historic 130-Year-Old Railway Roundhouse to Receive Million-Dollar Restoration in Minas Gerais

After Almost Four Decades of Abandonment, Ribeirão Vermelho Railway Rotunda Will Receive Historical Restoration with Investment of R$ 2.9 Million and Cultural Actions

Historical Heritage

Origin of Funding

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