10 - "Harlan" car

The so-called “Harlan” car stands out in the collection, being a lot bigger, with a more modern appearance, than the third-class one occupying the first track of the Rotonda (Roundhouse), although it is actually the oldest and most valuable of them all. It was built in the United States, using tropical wood, in 1878 for the Valls to Villanueva and Barcelona Railway. When it arrived in Vilanova i la Geltrú in 1881, from the other side of the ocean, it was the most advanced and comfortable train in all Europe. It was built on two wooden bogies, which made the trip a lot more comfortable. These vehicles were purchased due to the interest of the railway company’s director, Francesc Gumà, in improving travelling conditions for passengers in an itinerary that he planned to extend as far as Madrid.

It included another outstanding innovation that was also unknown in Europe: an automatic air brake. Thanks to this system, if a vehicle became uncoupled due to the coupler breaking, which happened quite frequently, the entire train would immediately stop, thereby avoiding many accidents. This type of brake was not introduced into European railways until the early 20th century. Moreover, the car interior features levels of comfort unknown to the Europe of that time, such as bidirectional seats.

The “Harlan” cars had a very long life and were still running in Catalonia up to 1972; in their last period, they were used in the Mataró commuter service. They were gradually withdrawn from circulation when electric locomotives replaced steam engines, since their greater power deformed the car’s wooden structure.

The Museum’s Association of Volunteers (SiC) took care of its restoration in a large-scale intervention that lasted eight years. Its interior features a display detailing its history and restoration process.