The set of tracks were essential for the transport, both of people and of materials for the construction of the Tuxpango Hydroelectric Plant
Popularly known as the Malacate de Tuxpango, this site is one of the most representative and full of history that can be found in the state of Veracruz, as well as being part of a very important project for Ixtaczoquitlán.
It is a set of tracks that were essential for the transport, both of people and of materials, to be able to formalize the construction of the Tuxpango Hydroelectric Plant during the year of 1905.
However, despite the passage of time, the tracks remain on the site guarding a history that could soon be revived thanks to the project that is planned for the site, now, as a tourist attraction.
What is the Malacate de Tuxpango? By the hand of Sergio Estrada, a well-known YouTube content creator and popularly called IamSerch, he recently made an exploration of the site, showing beautiful images and demonstrating the tourist potential that it has.
It is a type of wagon that worked by a system of pulleys and cables, which made it possible to move along the installed tracks, on which materials for the construction of the aforementioned Hydroelectric Plant could be transported, as well as people from the surroundings such as the Campo Chico and Grande valley of this municipality, thus becoming one of the most important means of transport of the time. The track consists of 1 km with 200 meters in length, approximately.
Over time, the terminal stopped working, however, many people, mostly men, ventured to travel on the tracks with the help of a piece of leather or tire.
With the help of their feet they pushed themselves and reached a great speed, also, with some sticks they could guide and brake. Many of them used the soles of their shoes to brake completely.
This site was also immortalized in a movie starring César Costa titled ‘What will we do with dad?’. In the film you can see how two people go down at high speed on those tracks.
The Mediateca of the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) shows a small image of 1928 in which you can see the Tuxpango plant, which you can find in the following link.
Authorities of the municipality of Ixtaczoquitlán recently announced the intervention of the site to rescue it and turn it into a tourist attraction, a project that could be reactivated this same year.
Source: El Sol de Orizaba
