José Baltazar Larrea

Pioneered railway development in Peru, crucial for economic integration and national unity.

Engineer José Baltazar Larrea (1840–1917) revolutionized Peru’s infrastructure by designing the first trans-Andean railway, the Central Andina. Completed in 1870, this 220km route connected the Andean highlands to the Pacific coast, transforming the export of minerals like guano and nitrates. Larrea’s engineering innovations, such as the use of steam locomotives in rugged terrain, laid the groundwork for Peru’s 19th-century economic boom. His work is chronicled in "Los Trenes del Perú: Historia de la Ferrocarrilera Central Andina", detailing how railways reduced regional disparities and centralized governance under President Mariano Ignacio Prado.

Larrea’s legacy persists in modern Peru’s rail network, with the PeruRail company continuing his vision. His contributions are often overshadowed by political figures, yet his engineering feats exemplify how infrastructure can drive socio-economic change in Latin America.