"In order to preserve the heritage status of Paranapiacaba as a well-preserved railway town, the government of Brazil decreed it to be a historic district and initiated further steps to preserve its heritage status and encourage its development as a suburb of São Paulo and to promote tourism." [Wikipedia]

"Paranapiacaba was established as a company town for the employees of São Paulo Railway, a privately owned British railway company." [Wikipedia]

"The Mata Atlantica around the town provides ample opportunities for hiking into the forest of the Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar where orchids and bromelias are major attractions." [Wikipedia]

The humid climate of the Atlantic Ocean pleases amphibians.

The artificial light of the power station illuminates the place like the evening sun.

Since the power supply in the district often fails, a separate power station of the Railway Company provides constant power for the line to the Atlantic, which nowadays transports ores mostly.

The wooden houses of the English São Paulo Railway Company characterize this small village.

There is not much more than pool billiard to enjoy here..

Time stands still in an old workshop hall.

The railway town with discarded trains on the siding...

The subtropical climate often causes fog and haze...

...and old steam locomotives are rusting away on the grass.

The VW Beetle is still omnipresent in Brazil.

The mountain railway line winds its way down to the Atlantic in serpentines.

Reportage

PARANAPIACABA

"Paranapiacaba was established as a company town for the employees of São Paulo Railway, a privately owned British railway company. The growth of this centre was facilitated by the railway, transporting cargo and people from inside Paulista to the port of Santos.
Vila de Paranapiacaba was established during the middle of the 19th century; it was designed by Jeremy Bentham according to a prison model style. It was founded by the British-owned São Paulo Railway Company. The construction of this zig-zag railway line in the hilly local terrain was considered a feat by the British engineers and workers at the time. The town was built when the company built the railway line to export coffee beans from the area through the port Santos. The village prospered for 30 years, until automated machinery replaced the funicular, which was labor-intensive. The village's population suddenly declined and many of its buildings were abandoned. At one time, there were 4,000 workers, most of them British citizens. The last steam train in Paranapiacaba was deactivated for labor work in 1982." [Wikipedia]