Once again, Correos is issuing a stamp dedicated to historic trains; in 2026, the featured train is the Utrillas Train (Teruel).
The Utrillas-to-Zaragoza railroad was a line designed to transport the lignite coal from the central mining basin of the province of Teruel.
In 1900, the Utrillas Mining and Railroad Company (M.F.U.) was founded in Zaragoza, and in 1904 its railroad a metric-gauge line between Utrillas and Zaragoza was inaugurated. After studying various route options for the railroad, the most direct route was ultimately deemed the most suitable, connecting Utrillas with Belchite and Zaragoza. It was completed in three years and five months, as planned, and the line spanned 125.376 km, passing through 11 stations on its way to the Aragonese capital.
The railroad represented a major improvement for the region, as at that time there were no other means of transportation besides roads and highways traveled by animal-drawn carts and stagecoaches.
During the Civil War, the line was divided into two sections and was used to transport military personnel to Belchite. After the Civil War ended, the line served to provide relief efforts, distribute goods, and assist in repairing war damage in the region.
However, the company’s traffic growth proved to be lower than initially anticipated. As a result, its operating ratio did not allow it to cover its expenses with revenue from transportation services, and it suffered recurring losses. Starting in 1955, the decline in traffic was drastic, and the company entered a crisis. Consequently, its owners transferred it to the government in 1963, which operated it temporarily until January 1966, when it was permanently shut down due to financial unviability. After 62 years of operation, service was suspended in March of that year.
The mining theme park lets visitors experience what it’s like to be a miner for a day aboard the original Hulla No. 1 locomotive from 1903. This experience offers insight into the authentic history of mining in Utrillas and its industrial heritage.
It is a museum-style tour that takes visitors through the various elements that make up the former Santa Bárbara Mine.
