Railway nostalgia: a forgotten memory in the urban spaces of Pitrufquén, La Araucanía region, Chile.

Abstract

The process of global capitalist modernization and industrialization has been a transformative force at the territorial level, with the emergence and widespread adoption of the railway being key to understanding its scope. In Chile, the arrival of this mode of transportation was decisive in the occupation of the southern part of the country, driven by the need for territorial connectivity and the exploitation of natural resources. The city of Pitrufquén, in La Araucanía, serves as a representative example of this historical and territorial process. As the railway loses relevance at the national level, railway spaces begin to depopulate, currently being repurposed for various activities. Accordingly, the objective of this research is to narrate the history and current situation of the open spaces near the railway line that are part of the daily urban life in Pitrufquén. The results reveal that these railway spaces are used as green areas and informal spaces, where the perception of the inhabitants is crucial for understanding the logic of these territorial patterns. Finally, the importance of preserving railway memory is reflected upon as a means of building a Pitrufquén connected with its past.