TheRailway,Bonsucesso,andthesuburbsofLeopoldina

Image description: This image is a black-and-white map showing the region of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The spatial layout runs from left to right, starting with the leftmost part and ending on the right. In the foreground, we see towns such as Entre Rios, Parahyba do Sul, and Cebolas. As we move to the right, we find localities such as Petrópolis, Areia, Pedro do Rio, and Nogueira. Further to the right still, we see towns such as São João de Meriti, Bocca do Matto, and Santa Rita. The map highlights railway routes and roads, marked by red lines.

In the second half of the 19th century, the region to the north of the imperial Court was cut through by the Central do Brasil, Rio do Ouro, and — closer to what is now Maré — the Leopoldina railroads.

Inaugurated in 1874, in the state of Minas Gerais, the Leopoldina Railway gradually expanded until it reached the port of Rio in the final years of the 19th century, going on to connect the then capital to the country's interior. Along its tracks, in addition to cargo such as coffee, sugar and other products from the interior, many people arrived with the intention of settling down in Rio de Janeiro.

With the growing population, Rio became cramped and stifling. The economic elites began a process of abandoning the central region and settling in the distant south zone. The middle classes started establishing homes close to railway stations like Leopoldina. Thus emerged the neighborhoods of Bonsucesso, Olaria, Brás de Pina, Penha, among others.

Image description: The image is an old plan, likely a map or technical drawing, depicting a geographic area with several lines representing roads or paths. The upper left contains the title "PLANTA" in larger letters, followed by other smaller and less legible information. The spatial layout begins on the left, where a series of curved and straight lines intertwine, possibly representing streets or paths. Moving to the right, we notice more densely marked areas, suggesting urban or residential areas. In the center-right, there is a highlighted area with a depiction of water, possibly a river or lake. The predominant color is beige, with some areas in light blue, which may represent water. There is no additional text or legible proper names in the image.

The impacts of the railroad were so profound that the region itself came to be known, in the 20th century, as the "Leopoldina suburb." Train and streetcar lines, roads and factories coexisted with fishing villages on the shores of the bay, giving a bucolic tone to the landscape just a few kilometers from downtown.

Image description: This is an illustration of a historic building, possibly a railway station, dated 1875. The image is in sepia tones, with black-and-white details. At the top, there is a postal stamp and text in Portuguese, mentioning "J.B.R.C." and "Nova Estação Olaria." The building has two main façades, both with decorative doors and windows. The central façade features a balcony with side verandas. The doors are brown in color, while the windows have black frames. The roof is sloped with ornamental details.

The “gentrification” of downtown, with elegant boulevards, increasingly tall buildings, cafés, and cultural facilities, made it become increasingly commercial. Capitalist expansion and industrial modernization demanded a larger port, with greater depth, connected to rail lines and operated by cranes, rendering the small wharf ports and manual labor installed throughout Guanabara Bay obsolete and outdated.