The Consul General

Notes from the Consul General

The Ecuadorian railroad: A history of friends and partners. As many of you may already know, President Eloy Alfaro’s dream of a large-scale railroad in Ecuador connecting Quito and Guayaquil was designed and executed by two American brothers: Archer and John Harman. In addition to their valuable contributions to the design, engineering and construction of the project, the Harman brothers also represented America’s commitment to supporting economic development and integration in Ecuador.  Even now, the railroad continues to symbolize the strong ties between America and Ecuador.
A few months ago, I was invited to the celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Huigra, the town in which John Harman is buried. I had the opportunity to meet Galo Garcia, author of “The World’s Most Difficult Railroad” and to listen to stories about how teamwork between America and Ecuador was crucial to writing this page in Ecuadorian history.
I also had the opportunity to visit the railroad station in Durán recently, where I saw firsthand people’s interest in and perspectives on the current railroad reconstruction project. While I was there, I listened to anecdotes by people who work on the railroad or who live in the area. It was helpful to learn a little more about Ecuador’s history and local customs, but more than anything, I enjoyed the cordiality and the warmth of the railroad workers and residents of the area. I think that anyone who visits Ecuador will be struck by the country’s wealth of natural resources, vitality and potential for a shining future. For that reason, I hope that our two countries can draw inspiration from the railroad and continue working together to build on our history of friendship and partnership.