REPORT


STRAWBERRY TRAIN
A TRIP TO PAST

TEXTO: FERNANDO TORRECILLA

FOTOS: ANA VEGA


Strawberry Train goes into the history in one hour, this is the time that train covers 50 kilometres between Madrid and Aranjuez. The journey remember first trips, 150 years ago, of the pioneers of Spanish trains.




Strawberry Train in Atocha station.


Strawberry Train follows the old Madrid to Aranjuez rail route (the second railway to be built in Spain) every Saturday and Sunday till mid-October (excepting the moths of July and August). The excursions run from 28th of April until 1st of July and then again from 15th of September to 14th of Octuber.



Hostess, wearing costume clothes, offers strawberries to passengers.


The trains departs from Atocha train station AVE platform at ten o'clock in the morning and arrives to Aranjuez at eleven o'clock. The return journey departs from Aranjuez at six o'clock, arriving again to Atocha station at seven o'clock.



Interior view of Mikado 141-F-2413.


Strawberry Train is made up of a steam engine, Mikado model, made in Spain in 1959 by Euskalduna company, and 4 Costa coaches made at the beginning of 20th century. Mikado engine consumed fuel, it can runs at 90 kilometres per hour and it weigh 175 tonnes.



A couple of passengers enjoying on train.


Ticket includes a guided visit to Aranjuez's beautiful gardens and palace, and all passengers receive delicious strawberries of Aranjuez on train. Palaces and gardens remaining as luxiriant evidence of significant past of this royal town. The Royal Palace dates from Queen Isabel II's age, 18th century. The gardens are open every day throughout the year.



Main gate of Aranjuez train station.


Journey includes as well a visit to "Aranjuez una gran Fiesta" Museum in a bull ring where you can see all parts of this place, chapel, bullpen, front rows, burladeros (wooden board behind which bullfighter can hide from bull), and Falúas Museum, where visitors can see the small ships that royal family and courtiers used to sail on Tajo river.


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