October 19 Free Mr Gillman and the Railways guided tour of Aguilas

A fascinating trip tracing the history of the railway in the coastal port of Águilas

This free monthly tour (in Spanish) traces the history of the traders and industrialists who played such an important role in the economy of Águilas in the second half of the 19th century and the first 30 years of the 20th, among them Gustavo Gillman. Gillman was a London-born civil engineer who was employed by the Great Southern of Spain Railway Company Limited and was heavily involved in the design and construction of the Lorca-Baza line.

The infrastructures here are part of the railway heritage of Spain in general and of Águilas in particular, and includes the bridge over the Rambla de las Culebras, tunnels and of course the mineral deposits which are of a kind which are not found elsewhere in Spain: in short, a key component of the industrual past of Águilas.

The route of the guided tour includes the bridge over the Rambla de las Culebras, the Sendero del Hornillo and the museum which has been created in the railway tunnel which leads to the emblematic Embarcadero del Hornillo loading jetty.

The visit starts on the esplanade outside the Auditorio Infanta Doña Elena in Águilas at 11.00 and lasts approximately 2 hours.

Bookings should be made through the Region of Murcia tourist board here from approximately one month prior to the date of the event.

Further information is available from the Águilas tourist office (Plaza de Antonio Cortijos, telephone +34 968 493285, email turismo@aguilas.es), where staff will also be happy to offer advice on where to enjoy a tasty lunch out in the town!

For more local events, news and visiting information go to the home page of Águilas Today.