Historic Railway Bridge Disappears from Brazilian City and Is Found 180 km Away
Key takeaways
- A historic decommissioned metal bridge, belonging to the former stretch of the West of Minas Railway, disappeared from the rural area of Prados, in the state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil.
- The bridge is 20 meters long and 5 meters wide, was built in England and arrived in Brazil around 1880.
- The city government filed a police report after being alerted by a resident.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
A historic decommissioned metal bridge, belonging to the former stretch of the West of Minas Railway, disappeared from the rural area of Prados, in the state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. The structure was found by police on private property in Lima Duarte, 180 km away.
The bridge is 20 meters long and 5 meters wide, was built in England and arrived in Brazil around 1880. Considered a tourist attraction in the city of 9,000 residents, it was used by cyclists riding along the old railway line.
The city government filed a police report after being alerted by a resident. Police found excavator and heavy machinery marks at the site, as well as a photo showing a truck transporting the walkway. The suspects allegedly blocked the access road with dirt to make it harder for vehicles to reach the area.