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Throughout the 19th century, cities and railways are the most impressive outer symbols of capitalism. The bibliography on the topic is recurrent while highlighting the fundamental role of railroads on the formation and growth of cities: population expansion and increased demand for services and trade, stimulation of exchanges, shortening of distances, changes in the notion of temporality and introduction of speed in a permanent lifestyle imposed with the advent of capitalism. The railroad symbolizes the triumph of technique and incorporates it in the urban daily life. It is essential in the (re)organisation of the world of workers. Its existence permanently requires new equipment inserted into the plot of the changing city flows, movements and expansion possibilities. This paper shows the relationship between the constitution of railways, cities and territorial construction in the State of São Paulo. Brazil might be considered very specific. However the processes occurring in São Paulo are manifolds, as well as the relationship between railways and modernity.