Honduras by Rail

The railway which runs from La Union to Refugio de Vida Silvestre Cuero y Salado is not the most glamorous in the world, but it may very well be the cutest. The track was built by Standard Fruit in the early 1900s to haul bananas for export. The Standard Fruit rail lines were nationalized in 1993 and the Ferrocarril National de Honduras was born. This is one of the few remaining serviceable lines.

La Union is about 30 km west of La Ceiba, Honduras. The forty minute route (red line, below) links La Union with Cuero y Salado, a spectacular wildlife refuge which provides habitat for jaguars, three-toed sloths, monkeys, crocodiles, and the extremely endangered manatee. I had a great time at the park. But I had an especially great time getting there by train.

Here's the passenger car waiting in the garage before departure:
This is a narrow gauge track, three feet from the inside of one rail to the other. Its narrower than standard gauge, which is the most common gauge in the United States.
A smooth ride:

Here are some pictures I took from the train:

I had fun: