The Arganda Train has been running on the tracks since September 19, having kicked off its fall season, and it does so during a year packed with anniversaries. The historic railroad—the only steam-powered line in the Community of Madrid and one of the few still in operation in Spain—will celebrate in 2026 no less than 140 years since the line’s inauguration, which was originally laid in 1886.
Added to this milestone are the centennial anniversaries of its two steam locomotives. The Arganda, built in 1925, is turning 101; the Áliva, manufactured in 1926, is celebrating its 100th anniversary. Both remain in active service, making them a technical and historical rarity of the highest order. The rolling stock is preserved and managed by the Centro de Iniciativas Ferroviarias Vapor Madrid (CIFVM), the organization that keeps the route alive.
A saloon car with a real-life history
Among the train’s treasures is the 1901 saloon car, which turns 125 this year and in which visitors can ride. The car has an illustrious past: the Count of Romanones used it frequently and, according to railway lore, often invited Alfonso XIII to join him in it. Today, anyone can take those same seats.
The popular Madrid saying that has accompanied the train for decades —“the Arganda Train, which whistles more than it runs”— affectionately sums up its leisurely and unique character. That pace is precisely part of its charm: a journey that doesn’t compete on speed but on the experience of traveling in machines that have been in motion for a century.
The fall season has already begun and will run on select Saturdays and Sundays through December. For more information on schedules and tickets, please visit their website.