**Chapter 31**
**Railroad (4)**
After returning from London, a grueling schedule began, working on track construction during the day and participating in locomotive development at night, with no time to rest.
I chose a broad gauge (1,520 mm) for the rail gauge and a flat-bottomed T rail, the most common type used in modern times, for the rail shape.
Since the material is wrought iron, it will need to be replaced later, but that's the same for other types of rails.
"There's no reason not to use the flat-bottomed T rail, which has been proven through multiple verifications and has become the standard in modern times. This alone will ensure much higher stability than other railroads of this era."
Other countries in this era use the simplest form of rail, a flat iron plate with a ledge protruding from one side.
"They'll have to experience an accident to realize the importance of the rail shape."
"Your Highness, are you really starting from here?"
The first track in the Mexican Empire is right in front of the track factory.
"Not only here, but we're going to connect the iron mine, steel mill, track factory, and locomotive factory with railroads. It's efficient for supplying construction materials, and it's a short section without difficult terrain, so it's good for gaining experience in track construction."
"I see. I understand."
I rolled up my sleeves again. This is to teach them how to build tracks.
"It's crazy to just stand there with my arms crossed, pretending to be in charge. I'll show you."
I started with surveying, and then went on to explain every detail, from safety inspection to maintenance, as I built a demonstration section.
Track construction was progressing smoothly without any trial and error.
"Your Highness, how do you know all this?"
"Wasn't it like this during the California expedition? You were clearly doing it for the first time, but you were leading the site naturally, as if you had done it many times."
"That's what I'm saying. It's a completely new thing, so I thought we would go through a lot of trial and error this time, but it's going so smoothly that I wonder if it's even possible."
The Liverpool-Manchester railway section in Britain took five years to build 31 miles, but we completed the 5-mile demonstration track within Las Truchas, including the preparation period, in just two weeks.
"The speed is unsatisfactory."
In the 1960s, the United States set an incredible record of building up to 10 miles a day.
It's not a typical speed, but a one-off record achieved in a flatland area suitable for railroad construction during a time of intense competition between railroad companies.
"Our goal is to build an average of 3 miles a day."
The track factory office.
Many architects, including Andrés Ortega, the president of Ortega Construcción, were looking at me.
"We built the track within Las Truchas and learned the basics, but the real track construction starts now."
I began to draw the route of the track section on the large-scale map that took up the entire table.
"The Las Truchas-Mexico City section. To build this section, the shortest route would be to go straight northwest from Las Truchas. It would be great if we could do that, but unfortunately, it's impossible due to the terrain. There are rivers and mountains in the way."
Tap, tap-
I pointed to the rivers and mountains drawn on the map.
"We have to take a detour, and there's actually no section without mountains. As you know, Mexico City is located on the Mexican Plateau. We have no choice but to choose the least difficult terrain. That's this section."
I drew a route that detours north, passes through the city of Morelia, and goes to Mexico City.
"This is the real deal."
***
The mountainous terrain north of Las Truchas.
I took a deep breath, looking at a huge rock that stood out in the distance. There was a large rock right in front of me, and behind it, steep mountains continued.
"Blow it up."
At my words, the workers began to prepare to detonate the explosives, and other workers began to evacuate in a hurry.
"Get out of the way!"
Boom-
Dirt and rock fragments flew.
I clicked my tongue at the sight that appeared after the dust settled.
"The firepower is insufficient."
"···Your Highness, shouldn't we use more explosives?"
"No. It's dangerous to use more than that. We can't risk human lives. Let's proceed slowly, making sure no one gets hurt, President Andrés."
"Yes, Your Highness."
The process of laying tracks with the technology and tools of 1830 was difficult.
I have knowledge of civil engineering, but civil construction is not something that can be done with knowledge alone.
I've calculated many times, and it's possible to lay tracks. It's just extremely inefficient and requires a huge workforce.
"It reminds me of the Spoonman."
"Yes?"
"No, never mind."
We have to go from Las Truchas, at an altitude of 100 meters, to Mexico City, at an altitude of 2240 meters.
"It's fortunate that we don't have to tunnel through mountains."
If there were steep mountains blocking the way between flatlands at similar altitudes, there would be no solution other than tunneling.
In that case, I would have already concluded that construction itself was impossible with the technology of this era.
Fortunately, we just have to keep going up. Grading was a more important task than tunneling.
I received a signal that they were ready again.
"Blow it up."
Boom-
"This time it's broken."
"It works if you do it several times."
We began to break the rocks and advance.
As we gained some experience with various obstacles, I instructed them to do the land clearing work in parallel.
"Let's have each architect take charge of 3 miles. Speed is important, but make sure to pay enough attention to safety."
"Yes!"
Dozens of architects, each with hundreds of workers, began work.
***
Locke Precision Machinery, located in Las Truchas, like the iron mine and steel mill.
In the recently built locomotive factory, they were manufacturing an improved version of the locomotive called "Rocket" that Joseph Locke had built with George Stephenson.
It's a design that Joseph and I have improved over several months to increase performance and fuel efficiency and make the parts mass-producible. We also modified the wheel part of the locomotive to fit the flat-bottomed T rail.
"It seems like most of the parts are ready for mass production."
"But do we really need this scale of mass production facility? I'm worried that Your Highness might be losing a lot of money."
Joseph seemed anxious.
"He's a worrier."
Unlike Joseph, who was thinking of only a few dozen to a few thousand units at most, I was thinking of at least thousands, if not tens of thousands.
"The Mexican Empire is vast. You'll need thousands of locomotives to build and use a web of railroads throughout this huge empire."
"···As expected, Your Highness's scale of thinking is different. Then, this factory won't be a waste."
We built everything so that we could mass-produce the locomotive, from the frame to the core components, the multi-tubular boiler, cylinders, firebox, and acceleration wheels.
Joseph had been confident that he could make a product identical to the British "Rocket" locomotive in six months. But when I told him to make it mass-producible from the start, it took a year just to modify the locomotive design, design and build the factory for it.
"I lived, ate, and slept here."
Double-track railroad extending into the interior of the locomotive factory.
Today, the first Mexican Empire locomotive will depart from here.
Whew-
Joseph took a deep breath, as if trying to shake off his nervousness.
"It's the first test run, so it might not work well."
"Don't worry. I know that it's unlikely for everything to go well from the start."
I patted Joseph on the shoulder, who was anxious about the first test run.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Joseph signaled, and a technician from Locke Precision Machinery began operating the locomotive.
Clank-
Clank, clank-
The locomotive slowly began to move.
Whew-
"It's moving, at least."
Joseph, who had been staring at the locomotive with a tense expression, said, as if relieved.
"Let's hurry and follow it."
We rode our horses and followed the locomotive.
Clack, clack, clack-
The technician, seeing us following, began to gradually increase the speed.
Clank, clank-
There were no problems until we passed the track factory.
Clank, clank-
The locomotive arrived safely at the last section near the iron mine, passing the steel mill.
"I can't believe it..."
"Unexpected."
Since I've been forced to invent quite a bit since coming to this world, I know how easily prototypes break. But it's been successful from the start to here.
"Ugh."
"Good work."
Joseph was crying.
He came to Mexico with me, thinking he was being treated unfairly under George Stephenson, but he was also anxious.
He must have wondered if he could do it without the Stephensons.
He finally proved himself.
I patted him on the back.
"Let's go back."
***
After the successful test run of the first Mexican Empire locomotive, I called Alfonso to Las Truchas.
Rattle, rattle-
A locomotive with a cargo box passed right in front of the locomotive factory.
"···That's what Your Highness was talking about."
"Yes."
The railroad will have a major impact on Rios Express, which provides transportation services using relay stations and stagecoaches.
I called him to show him the railroad and locomotive directly and ask him to revise his management strategy.
This will give him a better feel than describing the railroad and locomotive in detail in a letter.
The effect was immediate.
"···If that's introduced, our company's relay stations and stagecoaches will be obsolete."
Relay stations on routes that overlap with the railroad will have to be closed.
That's because the railroad will be faster, safer, and capable of transporting large quantities. But not every area can be reached by railroad.
"The railroad will connect major cities, and relay stations and stagecoaches will connect those cities to smaller towns."
Alfonso thought for a moment about my words, then said,
"How many cargo boxes can be attached to the back of that locomotive?"
"It depends on the weight of the cargo. It's possible to attach up to five boxes if they're light, but it might be difficult to attach even two boxes when transporting heavy iron goods like just now."
The locomotive that had just passed was carrying iron ore.
"Then, it might actually be beneficial for us. We'll operate the expensive stagecoaches for short distances, and use that railroad for long distances."
"Yes. As you said, you'll collect mail and packages from each village and city and transport them by train."
"It will reduce costs and save administrative manpower, so I'll invest the increased profits in the financial sector."
Alfonso revised his strategy without even being told.
"How's the financial sector going?"
"We started with postal money orders and gold buying services, and recently started deposit and loan services."
"Are there any people who don't repay their loans?"
"We don't approve loans for those without collateral."
"Hmm. You're doing well as expected."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
I discussed future business plans with Alfonso.
"Now that the Rios Express problem is solved, we're almost ready."
I wrote letters to landowners across the country who had some money. Of course, I included the members of parliament.
I'm ready to hit them from behind.
────────────────────────────────────