Abstract :
The Mexican Railway Company, Ltd., locally known as Ferrocarril Mexicano, was the first railway built in Mexico, having been opened to traffic January 1, 1873. The main line runs between Mexico City and Vera Cruz and is 264 mi. in length. There are six branch lines which increase the route miles to a total of 482. The most difficult portion of the line consists of 19 mi. of 4.7 per cent grade between Encinar and Boca del Monte where the table-land is reached. In 1921, when the road was returned to its owners, following five years of government operation, the property was found to be in an unsatisfactory condition, with operating expenses more than doubled, thereby increasing the operating ratio from 0.51 in 1914 to 0.79 in 1920. Higher wages and new working agreements were largely responsible and continued to become more difficult. The mountain division had about reached its maximum capacity with the existing equipment, making it necessary to consider improvements. A study of the operating costs of this section was made in 1921 from which it was apparent that the electrification of that section would readily relieve the congestion and make it possible to more than double the capacity of the line, and at the same time accomplish a yearly saving of $523,000 in operating expense. The electrification was estimated to cost $2,420,000, thus indicating a return of 21 per cent on the gross investment including electric locomotives, in addition to the increased capacity and many other advantages. Construction work was started in January 1923 and electrical operation between Orizaba and Esperanza was complete in January 1925. The total cost for the 29 mi. section was $2,427,480.00. Internal disturbances delayed the work several months and reduced the traffic greatly. In March and April 1928 the traffic becomes comparable with that of September and October 1921, for which period the actual traffic records and operating costs for steam operation had been used as a basis for co- parison with the estimated cost of an equal traffic with electrical operation. A comparison of actual operating costs of items affected by electrification for the two periods showed that 10 electric locomotives had hauled 36 per cent greater tonnage in 40 per cent less train hours than had 25 steam locomotives and at 50 per cent of the cost for items affected. When the figures were properly adjusted to compensate for increased tonnage and higher wages, the saving indicated was at the rate of $663,348 per year, a return of 26 per cent on the total cost of the electrification. In the meantime the general results had been so satisfactory that the electrification was extended 35 mi. south to Paso del Macho, making a total of 64 mi. at a cost of $3,606,937.00.
