Railroad and Train Day in Mexico

Every November 7th is commemorated in Mexico the day of the railroad worker (Día del Ferrocarrilero y del Tren), officially decreed by the then president of Mexico Manuel Avila Camacho for the year 1944, a fact that sought to honor all railroad workers in their daily service to passengers.

This celebration has as a background a tragic story that today is known as the "Hero of Nacozari", now internationally recognized as a "Hero of Humanity" by the American Royal Cross of Honor of Washington, in honor of a 26 year old engineer who spontaneously offered his life on November 7, 1907, when he bravely pulled out of the town of Nacozari, Sonora, a train loaded with dynamite that was already on fire, saving the lives of its inhabitants.

Jesús García Corona, noticed at that time the fire coming out of the firebox next to a compartment that was loaded with dynamite that was to be transported to the Pilares mine, and decided to operate the train, "engine 501", away from the town of Nacozari to avoid a catastrophe.

Soon a large explosion was heard which fortunately did not damage the town of Nacozari. However, the young engineer Jesús García, along with 12 other people who were nearby, lost their lives.