The Chiloé railway was a narrow gauge railway on the Isla Grande de Chiloé , Chile , which operated between 1912 and 1960 Until the construction of the train, the only way of land transport between Ancud and Castro —the two main cities on the island— was through the old Camino de Caicumeo , opened at the end of the 18th century .During the first years, the trip between Ancud and Castro took five hours and derailments were frequent as a result of the little rail experience on the island.