Águilas has recovered the jetty that was used by the railway between 1904 and 1973 to bring iron ore from the Sierra de los Filabres mountains of Almería. The old tracks have been converted into a walk that is divided into two small sections. One leads into the first loading tunnel, which has been turned into a museum about the Hornillo Jetty. The other walk or trail rises up to become a walkway over the loading tanks, thereafter leading to the jetty with beautiful views of Hornillo Bay and Fraile Island.

To start your visit to the railway heritage of Águilas, there is nothing like doing it in the Railway Museum, housed in the basement of the passenger building of Águilas Station. It features interesting material, photos and models.

Then we can continue by the railway monument located in the Plaza de Isaac Peral. It is an old steam locomotive built in Glasgow that was in service from 1890 to 1967. It weighs 82 tons and could reach a speed of 85 km/h.

A leisurely walk full of interesting items along the Hornillo Jetty Greenway

After this railway cultural immersion we are in a position to go to the Horneillo Jetty and the small greenway to which it has given rise.  We can get there by means of the metal ramp that can be accessed from Espalda Cuña Street.

In these facilities we can see the bridge over the Rambla de las Culebras; it is a walkway with a metal deck (42 m) supported by three ashlar pillars. We can also see the old and original rails integrated into the trails.

The Hornillo Jetty is made up of the loading dock, the train station and the loading tanks. The loading dock has a deck 170 m long by 12 m wide that supported 3 tracks, two side ones for unloading on ships by means of chutes and a central one to facilitate manoeuvring. The mixed platform is supported by metal columns raised on a masonry breakwater. Its rehabilitation is pending and at the moment it is not possible to access it, but the views from here and good photos of the bay and the island of Fraile are guaranteed.

The jetty station is also pending rehabilitation, but it can be clearly seen from this place.

It should be noted that for the construction of the loading docks-tanks, the mountain was excavated and three tunnels and two tanks were made of stone. These enabled ore to be stored while waiting for cargo ships. The train could unload directly onto the ship through tunnels 1 and 2, whose galleries were open at both ends. Otherwise, the ore was stored in the two tanks located on top of the strong vaults of the tunnels. Upon the arrival of a ship, the ore fell through hoppers into wagons that finished off the shipment.

The whole complex is perfectly explained with information panels; there are also metal canopies with benches, litter bins, lighting and railings, a metal walkway and a viewpoint overlooking the tanks.

Another element not to be missed is the first cargo tunnel that houses the museum centred on the construction and use of Hornillo Jetty.

Without a doubt, a place where you can enjoy a walk, learn and have a good time getting to know about all the heritage that mining and the railway bequeathed to the town of Águilas and that deserves to be preserved, known and appreciated.