At the turn of the 19th century Princes Town was growing. There were several large sugar estates nearby including Cedar Hill, Bronte and Malgretoute. The Usine (or factory) at Ste. Madeleine, which was built around 1870-72 was a central factory. This meant that the nearby estates sent their sugar cane there to be processed. The Glenroy Tunnel was built to facilitate the passage of the train, which carried sugar cane from the estates to Usine St. Madeleine.

The Cipero Tramway, an agricultural line that was built in 1859 by William Eccles, connected the Usine to the San Fernando Wharf. In 1861 the line was extended east to Princes Town. A railway was set up to transport cane from the estates to the Usine.

In 1876 the Trinidad Government Railways company was formed and subsequently opened another railway line to Princes Town. This was the Guaracara line that connected Marabella, Union, Reform, Williamsville and Princes Town. In order to facilitate the passage of the railway through a steep hillside at Malgretoute, the Glenroy Tunnel was cut in 1887. The tunnel was called the Glenroy Tunnel because it bordered on the Glenroy Estate.

However according to railway historian Glen Beadon, the Glenroy Tunnel was built for the original Guaracara-Cipero Junction railway line through Glenroy tunnel. It was opened to transport sugar cane in 1913 and to passenger traffic in 1914.

Address: Naparima Mayaro Road, Malgretoute

Town/City:

Region: Princes Town

Site Type: Cultural Heritage

Ownership: Public

Public Accessibility: Full Access

Cultural Community:

Site Features: Railway Sites

All photos were taken by Leslie-Ann Paul.

Sources:

Glenroy Tunnel. Trini Outdoors.com. 

Princes Town Regional Corporation’s Facebook Page.