by 1950 another railway was constructed, this time linking rio de janeiro to the southwestern city of vitoria, the capital of espirito santo - this was followed in 1886 by the estrada do ferro do norte, built by plinio de oliveira and connecting rio de janeiro with the estrada ferroviaria mauá. perhaps the most well-known railroad to be built in the marvelous city during these years was the companhia de estrada de ferro dom pedro ii, built in 1855 by the imperial government of brazil. beginning in june 1855, the railway was fully completed by march of 1858. this railroad linked rio's royal court to the provinces of săo paulo and minas gerais - its name was changed to the estrada de ferro central do brasil upon brazil's independence in 1889, and its expansion continued throughout the 20th century.
