José García Prado

Peruvian engineer who pioneered Andean railway construction, connecting remote regions to national markets.

José García Prado (1840–1912) revolutionized transportation in Peru by designing the first railways through the Andes Mountains. As chief engineer for the Central Railway Company, he overcame extreme terrain challenges to complete the 1889 Cusco-Puno line, which slashed travel time from 14 days to 14 hours. His innovative use of Z-shaped curves allowed trains to navigate 4,000-meter elevation changes safely.

Prado’s engineering principles are still used today in mountain railways. He trained over 500 local workers during construction, creating Peru’s first professional engineering corps. His memoir "The Iron Path Across the Andes" (1895) details the project’s challenges. Modern historians note his work enabled the export of Andean minerals that fueled Peru’s economic growth in the early 20th century.