The first forum that brought together researchers to conduct a specialized study of railway history was organized by Renfe in December 1979 with the specific aim of better understanding the role played by this mode of transportation in the economic development achieved by Western Europe beginning in the 19th century. Although several subsequent meetings were held, it was not until 1998 that an International Congress—part of the commemoration of the first Spanish railway organized by the Spanish Railways Foundation—would once again bring together researchers for the same purpose. The success of this congress was so great that, in the years that followed, the FFE organized another six more meetings more. Several hundred people have participated in them
academics, mostly professors from universities in Spain and Portugal, although there has been regular and significant participation by faculty members from France, Italy, Belgium, Germany, the United Kingdom, Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico. At these conferences, hundreds of papers were presented, naturally, covering a wide range of perspectives, including economic, geographical, heritage-related, social, and technical approaches.
In 2017, ASIHF took over from the FFE and organized the seventh congress in Valencia, which was followed by a History Conference dedicated to the “Glorious” of 1918 in Valladolid, the eighth congress held in Lisbon in 2021, and the ninth congress held in Mataró in 2023.
* * *
The first forum bringing together researchers to examine the history of the railroad was organized by Renfe in December 1979, with the specific aim of better understanding the role played by this transportation system in the economic development of Western Europe beginning in the 19th century. Although several subsequent meetings were held, it was not until 1998 that an International Congress, as part of the commemoration of the first Spanish railway, organized by the Fundación de los Ferrocarriles Españoles, brought together researchers with the same objective. The success of this congress was such that, in the following years, the FFE organized six meetings. Several hundred scholars participated in these, mostly professors from Spanish and Portuguese universities, although the presence of professors from France, Italy, Belgium, Germany, the United Kingdom, Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico was regular and notable. At these conferences, as is obvious, several hundred papers were presented covering every possible approach, such as economic, geographical, heritage, social, or technical perspectives.
In 2017, the ASIHF, replacing the FFE, organized the seventh congress in Valencia, followed by a Historical Gathering dedicated to the “Gloriosa” of 1918 in Valladolid, and the eighth congress in Lisbon in 2021, andin 2023, the ninth congress in Mataró.
