2025.10.12 – How the Cobos–Furbero Railway — the Legendary “Maquinita” of Veracruz — Forged Poza Rica’s Identity through Oil, Rails, and Collective Memory

Posted byLeonardo Tomás CardilloPosted inUncategorized

Key Takeaways

  • The Cobos–Furbero Railway, affectionately known as “la maquinita”, was a complete narrow-gauge railway line, not just a locomotive.
  • Built between 1902 and 1908 by the Oil Fields of Mexico Company, it connected Cobos (near the port of Tuxpan) with Furbero (today part of Coatzintla) across roughly 82 km of rugged terrain.
  • This railway enabled the transport of oil equipment, materials, and workers, fueling the development of Poza Rica de Hidalgo and the regional petroleum industry.
  • Officially inaugurated on 16 September 1908, it became the first stable route through the oil zone of northern Veracruz, long before modern highways existed.
  • Though dismantled mid-20th century, its memory endures as a cultural symbol of progress, community, and industrial heritage — celebrated today in museums, social media, and civic pride.

The Story and Details

The Digital Legacy

A Facebook post by cultural promoter Carmelita Carballo, part of her #SabíasQue (“Did You Know”, translated from Spanish) series, revived public attention to the Cobos–Furbero Railway, known locally as “la maquinita.”
Her message — translated from Spanish — read that it “revolutionized its time and helped consolidate our beloved Poza Rica de Hidalgo as Mexico’s petroleum capital.”
Images showed a small locomotive with passengers, old railway sections cutting through forested slopes, and a map tracing the line between Tuxpan and Poza Rica.

Origins and Purpose

At the dawn of the 20th century, Veracruz’s northern oilfields were isolated. To overcome this, the Oil Fields of Mexico Company planned and built a 610 mm narrow-gauge railway, the Cobos–Furbero line, between 1902 and 1908.
Its mission was simple yet transformative: to move heavy drilling machinery, pipes, food, and workers from the port of Tuxpan to interior camps in Furbero, Coatzintla, and what would become Poza Rica.
The railway served as the backbone of an emerging industrial region, the artery that carried not just oil but civilization into the jungle and lowlands.

Operation, Route, and Milestones

  • Inauguration: 16 September 1908.
  • Track: Approx. 82 km, 610 mm gauge.
  • Rolling stock: Initially British-made steam locomotives; by the 1940s, diesel engines replaced them.
  • Travel time: Originally 10–12 hours (full route); diesel reduction to ~4 hours.
  • Top speed: ≈14 km/h, adequate for steep grades and fragile bridges.
  • Key sites: Stations at km 0 (Cobos), 8, 12, 18, 25, 31 (La Unión), 44, 52, 65, 77, 82 (Furbero). A metal bridge over the Cazones River at km 31 was a technical landmark.
  • Service: Mixed freight and passenger. Locals often rode on open cars free of charge, while certain freight (corn, tools) was billed. Kalamazoo motor cars were reserved for foreign engineers and managers.
  • Decline: When roads arrived in 1959, the railway lost function and was gradually dismantled. In 1963, a diesel locomotive was mounted as a monument in Poza Rica, where it still stands.

Impact on Poza Rica and the Region

The Cobos–Furbero Railway became the lifeline of northern Veracruz. It linked oil zones, enabled trade, and created settlements along its path.
Villages that began as oil camps turned into permanent towns; among them, Poza Rica, which grew into the main industrial hub of the region.
The railway’s daily movement of workers and goods brought a new social rhythm — bridging urban and rural, Mexican and foreign communities.
By linking oilfields to ports, the maquinita transformed local geography and economy into a dynamic industrial landscape.

Memory, Heritage, and Rediscovery

Decades after its closure, the Cobos–Furbero line remains alive in memory. A diesel locomotive preserved in a Poza Rica roundabout serves as a daily reminder of its industrial origins.
Historians and citizens have since reconstructed its story through photographs, municipal records, and oral accounts. Social media initiatives — including Carballo’s post — have brought the railway’s history back to public awareness, especially for younger generations who never saw its tracks.

Verified Video Evidence

Modern videos show that parts of the rail bed and the metal bridge still exist. One verified example is the YouTube documentary “Fuimos al túnel y al puente donde pasaba la maquinita”, which guides viewers through the old tunnel and bridge remains and narrates their role in regional development.
Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nl8dgkpSwLc (verified October 2025).

Definitions & Term Translations

maquinita

  • Meaning: Diminutive of “machine” in Spanish, used affectionately to refer to the small locomotives of the Cobos–Furbero railway.
  • Origin: Spanish term derived from máquina + diminutive suffix -ita.
  • Acceptance: Deeply embedded in Mexican industrial vocabulary and regional heritage.

zona

  • Meaning: “Zone” or “area,” referring to a geographical region or sector.
  • Origin: Borrowed from Spanish, cognate with the English word “zone.”
  • Professional acceptance: Standard term in geography and urban studies.

Conclusions

The Cobos–Furbero Railway, better known as “la maquinita,” was far more than a cute train — it was a full rail system that defined the industrial era of northern Veracruz.
It carried tools, oil, and hope across a landscape that had no roads, forging the identity of Poza Rica de Hidalgo and its people.
Today, through heritage projects and digital storytelling, its rails still run in memory, linking past innovation to present pride.

Sources

Published by Leonardo Tomás Cardillo

https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonardocardillo

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