The highest ecclesiastical authority on the day of the inauguration in 1848 was the bishop of Barcelona, who was elderly and in poor health. He was accompanied by the bishop of Puerto Rico to replace him in the celebration of the Mataró ceremony.
A few weeks later a locomotive derailed. The suspicion, not proven, fell on some employee of the proceedings, a service that had been most harmed.
"We went and back from Mataró in one day", he liked to brag back then.
In the following weeks, the 24 carriages were so full that some travelers dared to climb on the roof.
The windows of the second class lacked glass, which in winter made it necessary to wrap up in blankets.
Stations: Barcelona, Montgat. El Masnou, Premià, Vilasar and Mataró. At the request, Ocata was added in 1849, already planned, but which was taking too long. No locomotive suffered any breakdowns, only wear and tear. The only one preserved, Mataró, was exhibited as a monument before the University in 1876. It was scrapped.
Quite a few Mataronesians asked that on a specific date the schedule be modified to attend a theater and thus be able to return home later.
The first four locomotives had been manufactured by the English company Jones and Potts. The fifth, already created locally, was named Española.
Fears: toxic smoke will damage lungs; sparks will cause fires; According to Dr. Amigó, the rattling will cause nervous diseases. Some priests condemned him for demonic art.
There was no shortage of peasants who promised, in the campaign against the iron road, never to get on it. Given the threat of attacks, continuous surveillance was deployed. Out of caution, it was recommended not to travel at night.
The drivers had to be English, but it was very expensive; It was resolved with the locals, after having been well trained.
A riot of women in Barceloneta broke out when it was rumored that the disappearance of a child was due to the need to use baby grease to lubricate the machinery, and they claimed to have seen a man with a sack. Hence, the children were intimidated like this: “Si et portes malament, vindrà l’home del sac!” These and other curiosities, surely from oral tradition, were told by Antoni R. Dalmau.
