Argentina
Index
Jorge Miglioli jamsur@ar.inter.net tells me (6th April 2002) that
he
has published a book on La Trochita, the narrow-gauge steam train
Paul Theroux christened "The Old Patagonian Express."
More information is available
on www.amigosdelatrochita.com.ar |
Click below for summary pages for older stories
Rio Turbio Railway
As a development of the news about the Rio Turbio system in the two
paragraphs that follow (7th September 2004),
Locomotives International 71 carried a report - since confirmed by other
correspondents - that the railway is considering reintroducing steam power owing
to the soaring cost of diesel and the poor condition of their locomotives. The
country is in a poor economic state and conventional alternatives like buying
newer, more fuel efficient diesels is not an option. Shaun McMahon is reported
to be working on the project which will see 116 (actually 107) and then 119
returned to service. Shaun has now sent me a news
release detailed ambitious development plans for the Rio Turbio system (2nd
November 2004), including a possible international link to Chile. Hugh Odom's
site has additional
news on developments (5th June 2005). Martyn Bane's site also contains an
August 2006 press
release which confirms that big things are afoot in the south of the country
(added 25th August 2006).
Martyn Bane has visited the Rio Turbio system and an extensive report (1st February 2004) of his visit covering the remaining steam
locomotives was posted on his own site (some of which now appears on http://www.martynbane.co.uk/modernsteam/ldp/rfirt/santafes.htm), similarly a
visit to the FCAF
(2nd February 2004). It seems that tourist steam may start to
operate at Rio Turbio (11th March 2004).
Bernd Seiler reports (23rd February 1999) "Steam on the Rio Gallegos system
finished some time in 1997 following the arrival of diesels." Ian Thomson (18th
October 1999) places it in November 1996 although steam was used with diesels for braking
purposes into 1997. Yard shunting will have lasted rather longer and several enthusiast
groups have since run steam charters on stretches of the line. Reports have appeared
locally that steam may be introduced as part of a plan to develop the area for tourism.
Click here for one such
(Spanish language) report (3rd June 2000). Click here for more information (link added 2nd October
2000).
The Train at the End of the World
(FCAF)
For an excellent video clip on the railway see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F60Eta_ao54
(7th January 2009)
Shaun McMahon (10th July 1999) reports on progress on rebuilding a steam loco on the "Train at the end
of the World" (includes pictures). Also check out the English language version of
their website (updated with details of the First World Tourist and Steam Trains
Conference which was to have been held in Argentina during October 2001 and is now
postponed to 2002 - amended 1st September 2001) - information on just
the FCAF is available here. Click here for a
photographic summary of the line and its locomotives with the the tiny Garratt now
ready to re-enter service (latest pictures 8th February 2002). Shaun has also contributed a series of articles
on the technical side of improving 'modern' 500mm gauge steam locomotives (latest update
5th March 2003). Exciting news from the FCAF is that they are taking delivery of
a
brand new steam locomotive (updated 12th May 2006).
The Esquel Railway
Getting up-to-date information on the Esquel operation has never been easy,
but Chris Lewis has emailed me the current (early 2005) schedule. I have made
this available as a
PDF file (15th December 2004) - it needs
Acrobat Reader of course but this is widely available and free to use. Chris has
now (15th December 2005) send me the
2006 timetable too. See also
La Trochita's own website www.latrochita.org.ar
and contact email latrochita@epuyen.net.ar.
David Thornhill points out that the UK's Railway Gazette reported an allocation
of just over GBP 1 million to renovate the line, welcome, but realistically this
is small beer for such a long line (18th October 2007).
There are some earlier
reports available. (last entry 15th February 2005).
Other websites
Anther useful general Argentine railway link is http://delplata.tripod.com.ar
(amended 1st September 2001). Martin Coombs has his own site covering the 'Railways of the Far South' (2nd December
2002) including information on several present and former narrow gauge railways. Martin wrote a brief report of his
December 2000 but pressure of work meant it was delayed (added 22nd February 2001).
Older Trip Reports
Colin Churcher has sent me an account of his trip
there in 1995. Manfred Schoeler sent me a report of his visit in
August and September 1996 with two of his pictures. Steve
Brown has put up his own
report on a visit to Patagonia (22nd Dec 1998). See also the TUT report (3rd Dec
1998) for details of then current activity.
Other Preservation Items
Robin Patrick has provided an
illustrated report of the November 2008 RTC trip which included some of the
locations above (9th December 2008).
Marcelo Benoit (28th June 1999) has sent the a large number of pictures covering preserved locomotives in the
country and I have added a
second set of photos (10th May 2000). I have added more pictures of
preserved locomotives (1st November 2001) which includes a preserved narrow gauge
(Luttermöller to me but the owner says Klien Lindner) 0-10-0 shades of Java, Indonesia.
Check it out (amended 22nd March 2002) the Ferroclub Argentino web
site with more pictures/information on preserved steam. Carlos Alberto Fernández Priotti tells me (15th
February 2000) about the official Website of the A.R.A.R. (Asociación Rosarina Amigos del
Riel) http://www.arar.org.ar/ where you can be view
updated useful information about trains, tramways and trolleybuses in Rosario, Argentina.
Bermuda Index
Trevor Heath has sent me this link on the Bermuda Railway - http://www.bermuda-online.org/railway.htm
- a wonderful look at the remains of another 'long forgotten railway' which
includes the remains of an old Baldwin steam locomotive, it is not clear when
this picture was taken (9th May 2008).
Bolivia Index
Chris Lewis was in Bolivia in September 2004 (24th
October 2004) and reports noting six steam locomotives in Guaqui on Lake
Titicaca. Ian Thomson adds "The locomotives at Guaqui are, for the most part, as in "World of South Américan Steam", from some 30 years ago. The saddle tank is a
Peckett. The main changes over the past decades have been: (i) Hunslet 2-8-0 No. 10 was sent to the stillborn Museo at Sucre (although where it is at right now I have no idea), I think bearing the makers' plates from No. 9; (ii) a couple of locomotives have been cut up, Nos. 4 and 6 if I remember correctly, but I'll have to check; (iii) No. 704 was sent to Guaqui from the Uyuni-Villazón line, initially to work tourist trains under an also stillborn arrangement with
Wagon-Lits. No. 704, which was built by
ALCO was operable until some seven years ago, at least, and I rented it a few times for tour groups. Also
operable was No. 9. All the locomotives belong to residual ENFE. I included Nos. 9 and 704 in the list of rolling stock which should be declared national monuments.
No. 704 is the only non F.C. de Guaqui machine at Guaqui. The 1939 diesel No. 1 is dumped at
Viacha, or at least was when I was last there a few years ago."
Ian Thomson reports on his latest visit (11th November 2003): "In Santa Cruz de la
Sierra, Nos. 544 and 796 have been placed in a shed specially constructed for them in the
Ferrocarril Oriental workshop area. They are visible from the street. No. 544 is operable,
and I am told regularly appears on a local TV ad. The Company seems to be investing quite
heavily in refurbishing passenger equipment for tourist charters. All other dumped steam
locomotives have disappeared, presumably for scrap, except the remains of an ex-FCAB
Vulcan Foundry 4-8-2. I am told that the locomotives dumped at Roboré are still there.
Roboré is shortly to become less inaccessible, since a highway is being built, parallel
to the railway, between Santa Cruz and Puerto Suarez/Corumbá. Once opened, the Railway
will withdraw regular passenger services." Marcelo Benoit questions this
last statement (3rd August 2007), "The railway has invested heavily to COMPETE with buses despite the opening of the road (I cannot call it a highway)."
For recent pictures of the steam graveyard at Uyuni, see http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2008/01/train-graveyard-in-bolivia.html
(thanks to Trevor Heath for this one, 5th March 2008,
this site cannot be accessed from China)
Torsten Schneider saw no live
steam in October 2001 but some interesting relics (24th October
2001). CRJ 104 reported a return to steam at Santa Cruz in August 1995. Ian Thomson reports (14th May 1997)
"The guy in charge of liquidating ENFE's assets, whom I have known personally for
around 20 years, went to look at the Vulcans and the Hitachi in Cochabamba over the
weekend. I am hopeful that at least two of the bunch can be saved and put back into
working order, one of them in Chile. I have been invited by the Ferrocarril Oriental to
work out a project for tourist trains, and hope to do so in the first week of June. Steam
could be used on a part of the runs. No. 544 is no longer working but is being kept nice
and clean in the depot at Santa Cruz, and I presume No. 796 must be available too,
although I did not see it last time I was in Santa Cruz."
Ian Thomson adds (29th Nov 1997): " No. 544 took a train, which I arranged for
Ffestiniog Travel with the Passenger Manager, from Warnes to Santa Cruz via
Montero, on
Saturday 22nd November. The locomotive was not in a very good condition. The trip took
around seven hours instead of the intended four. Injectors of both kinds were mainly to
blame. The train consisted in the ex-FCALP diner and sleeping cars, plus miscellaneous
wagons. We nearly got in late enough to take advantage of the sleeper in nighttime
mode."
See the TUT report (3rd Dec
1998) for details of the then current activity.
Brazil
Index
Introduction
Brazil is a nightmare country to cover for the steam enthusiast. Apart from
its shear size, 'Inventario das
Locomotivas a Vapor no Brazil' by Regina Perez (9th
December 2006) lists 419 extant steam locomotives. For more information on this
book see http://www.revistaferroviaria.com/memoriaferroviaria/index_ing.htm
(address updated 21st October 2008). I can't afford
a copy but I am told it is well worth obtaining. However, the percentage of
locomotives listed which are anything like operable is tiny and the smaller
tourist operations come and go at an alarming rate. Similarly, I know that a
fair proportion of websites I have listed are 'dead' but weeding them out from
behind the Great Chinese Firewall risks throwing the baby out with the
bathwater. Further, many are not maintained and the information is frequently
out of date...
I have spent a day using various sources to put together an
outline guide to tourist railways in the country (21st
October 2008) and would appeal to those who have recent experience of
travelling independently here to let me have comments, reports and some pictures
so it can become a useful ongoing resource.
The Brazilian Magazine Revista Ferroviaria (http://www.revistaferroviaria.com.br)
has an English language (part) mirror site http://www.revistaferroviaria.com/index_ing.asp
from which some information on steam preservation may be found (thanks to Henry Posner III
for this one, updated 21st October 2008).
Surviving Brazilian Steam Locomotives
I know of no list on the web (and the book mentioned above is bound to have
been out of date by the time it was published). Eddie Edmundson provided a long list of surviving steam locomotives in
North East Brazil (29th January 2002) and a survey of steam locomotives spotted outside
the North East of Brazil (originally uploaded 29th January 2002, Martin Murray
added some later observations, 3rd April 2002). Torsten
Schneider updated (17th April 2002) his own summary of steam locomotives/sites
in the country - he knows it is incomplete and we would both welcome help in filling
in the gaps and adding other locations. Torsten's list includes a large number of web site
links (many of which have since died) and valuable access details. (I agree with Torsten it would be difficult to combine
his and Eddie's lists!).
Martin Murray suggests checking out Kelso Medici's site
which covers preserved steam in the Sao Paulo state: http://www.geocities.com/vapor_br_sp/
(link added 9th April 2001 and still live 21st October
2008).
Some of the better know large steam locomotives are covered in Donna Theresa Christina Survivors
(latest entry 10th April 2006)
Sentinel Steam alive and other working steam
What must be the most remarkable story of 2002 was the survival of two active Sentinel locomotives at the
Amsted-Maxion wagon works in Cruzeiro
(SP province). An illustrated article (showing 166, 0-4-0 Sentinel, one of 8398-8400/1931)
appeared in the Brazilian Magazine Revista Ferroviaria in
July 2002. Although these have appeared in various preserved locomotive lists, it seems
that, in the UK at least, no-one seemed to know that they were actually 'working
steam'
(4th September 2002). Thanks to Henry Posner III for initially tipping me off on this one. There are
(somewhat dated) pictures of the locos on http://www.geocities.com/vapor_br_sp/cruz166.htm
and http://www.geocities.com/vapor_br_sp/cruz167.htm.
Bought in 1960, the two survivors work in turn (the remains of a third are derelict)
normally within the 'raw material yard'. Prior arranged visitors are very welcome to observe them....
They were reported to be still at work in September 2008 (7th
October 2008).
A report appeared in the UK Guardian newspaper on 6th March 1999, detailing the
continued use of a 1927 Kerr Stuart at Usina Serra Grande at Sao Jose de Laje, some 250km
south of Recife. This is probably metre gauge 0-6-2T #4 (4193/1927), the system is
reported to still have about 20km of track and bring in 20% of the harvest.
Unfortunately, I do not have a sufficiently good copy of the article to reproduce the
photograph that went with it. The Dorrridge Travel group was here in late 1999 and I
believe they saw active steam at work.
Brian Williams adds (15th October 2000) "I came across a
site with some good coverage of the "USINA HIDRELÉTRICA DE ITATINGA"
hydroelectric plant near Sao Paulo that can probably boast the last 'working steam' in
Brazil (see also Jose Beraldo's
coverage). The loks are adorable and very exciting for feldbahn enthusiasts! http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Matrix/3175/itatinga.htm"
Although (3rd June 2000) Sergio Matire told me about :Tubarão (see below),
Torsten Schneider said there is no longer active steam here (17th April 2002):
"By the way since Brazil needs a lot of electric power, the complex
at Capivari near Tubarão is working at full power to burn coal to make steam and generate
electric power. Since this happens all motive power of Ferrovia Tereza Cristina is working
in this, but, yes always we have but - they need more locomotives and also someone
remembered the steam locos, 405 and 410 which have returned to work in the line as
shunting locos, but on steam how long this will work?? The statistics says that Brazil
need electric power at least for one more year, imported from Uruguay, Argentina, Bolivia
and Venezuela... "
São João del-Rei
This is perhaps the most famous museum operation in Brazil. Cliff Schoff travelled on the
São João del-Rei preserved railway in
October 1999 and sent me a
report (27th December 1999). Cliff paid a return this to the railway in November 2001,
you can read his report.
(15th Jan 2002) or view the
accompanying pictures (26th January 2002). For some information (13th September 1999) on the São João
del-Rei preserved railway see Júlio Costa's home page.
Other steam preservation items
Steve Pratt joined a Brazilian
Steam Safari in September 2008 and has provided a list of active and other
steam locos seen (7th October 2008).
Jose Beraldo has sent me an
update of current preservation news (but this was in 1999!) and for a while
regularly sent me snippets about preserved steam. Sergio Matire later
contributed to this series. Check
it out. (latest picture 24th December 2008). The major preservation site at Campinas has its own web site http://www.abpf.org.br (added 30th November 2001).
Eddie Edmunson's report of a
May 1998 visit to the city of Campos dos Goytacazes in the State of Rio de Janeiro and
a live preserved metre gauge Baldwin has reached me rather late! (additional information,
23rd December 2003) and to this I have added picture of unidentified preserved 0-6-0ST and 0-4-0ST in
Brazil (20th/28th December.1998).
Chile Index
Older reports are now available as follows:
Robin Patrick has provided an
illustrated report of the November 2008 RTC trip which included some of the
locations below (9th December 2008).
Colchagua Valley Wine Train
Click here
for reports predating the inauguration (last entry 1st April 2004).
The Wine Train has finally gone into service, reports Ian Thomson (5th May
2004) it has its own (Spanish language) website http://www.trendelvinochile.cl/
(link added 8th November 2006):
"The Colchagua Valley Wine Train made its highly successful inaugural run on
Wednesday 14th April. The five year gestation period has been criticized for being
lengthy, but it is not easy getting together a project which involved rebuilding 55 kms of
abandoned track, two abandoned stations and a 2-6-0 which was last steamed in 1982. The
total investment cost came to something like USD 4 millions. Financial support was
received from local municipalities, Chilean State Railways, the Association of local wine
producers, Greenwich S.A., the Cardoen Foundation, the regional government, and others.
Credit is due to all the directors of the Wine Train Corporation, and especially Mr.
Carlos Cardoen, President, Messrs. Luis Ajenjo and Nicolás Flaño, present and previous
Vice Presidents, respectively, (and present and previous Presidents of Chilean State
Railways) as well as to Mr. Jorge Carrasco, Manager of the Project, and his colleagues,
Messrs. Domingo Buscaglia and Carlos Vildósola, who coordinated the restoration of the
locomotive and Mr. Alejandro Mancilla who helped likewise with the carriages.
President Ricardo Lagos joined the train halfway along its journey from San Fernando,
133 km south from Santiago on the main line, and Santa Cruz, an intermediate station but
the one where the main festivities took place. He declared the Wine Train officially
inaugurated at a well orchestrated ceremony held at Santa Cruz. Just about everything went
right on the day. Two weeks before, on the trial run, the 1913 vintage Chilean built but
North British designed 2-6-0 No. 607 had produced a lot of smoke but hardly enough steam
to activate the whistle, but on the 14th it did everything asked of it. It was still coal
burning which at the end of the summer caused concern that the sparks could set on fire
the very vineyards that the Train is meant to promote. But, even though on the day, after
a murky start, the sun shone through, there was overnight rain, which eliminated serious
fire risk.
Services for the public commenced on Sunday 25th April, but for the first couple of
months trains will be diesel hauled, whilst the 2-6-0 is converted to burning oil. Tickets
are available at CLP 35 000 each, which includes, in addition to the ride on the Wine
Train: train travel from and to Santiago; wine tasting; lunch at the Santa Cruz Plaza
hotel; entry to the Colchagua Museum, also at Santa Cruz, and; local transport in Santa
Cruz."
What actually happened to the oil burning conversion is unclear, but Colin
Young saw 607 still as a coal burner in February 2008 (26th
March 2008).
Temuco heritage locomotive depot
There are signs of life in Temuco (see also below); in late 2006, there will
be steam specials using Baldwin 4-8-2 820 on certain Sundays between Temuco and
Victoria. For more information see http://www.temucochile.com/noticias/2006septiembre/tren.htm
and www.museoferroviariotemuco.cl
- in Spanish of course but readily comprehensible in your favourite web based
translator. Thanks to Louis Cerny for this one (added 8th
November 2006). See also the ACCPF website - http://www.accpf.cl/inicio.html. On
February 24th 2007, Robert Hedgecock had the pleasure of riding the Temuco railway
museum's Temuco- Victoria excursion behind 4-8-2 # 820 ( Baldwin 1938). The trip went well until Victoria when while the engine was being turned for the return trip it suffered a boiler tube failure and the passengers where forced to return to Temuco by diesel railcar or bus. This being Chile I suspect it will be quite a long time before this engine is returned to service as funding for repairs will not likely be soon in coming. However there are several other Baldwin 4-8-2s in the Temuco museum which appear in quite good condition Also noted on the trip derelict and heavily stripped in the yard at Pua were
a pair of 2-6-0s these may be Borsig or North British engines. The station agent said they had originally been intended for a museum in the north of Chile. The next day the entire train returned to Temuco being pulled at very slow speed by French built diesel # 7147 the crew frequently stopping to oil bearing and rods
(added 4th March 2007).
Roger Joanes reports (22nd March 2002):
Temuco: There are fourteen steam locos stored in the former roundhouse here, (and one
more at the passenger station). The roundhouse, which also features a steam crane and the
skeletons of a few carriages, has previously been open to the public as a museum. Although
the museum is now closed, on the day we visited the security guard was friendly and access
was no problem.
Valdivia - Antilhué: A steam excursion has run on this freight-only line every Saturday
and Sunday during the summer holiday month of February. Departure from Valdivia was at
15.00, returning from Antilhué at about 17.00. The loco is a 2-6-0 dating from around
1913, Chilean-built to a British design. It carries the number 620 (screwed on at the
front but the cabside plates were attached with velcro!). The loco ran chimney-first both
ways, turning on the loop at Antilhué. Carriages by Linke-Hofmann dated from the
1920’s or 30’s. It is planned to run this trip every Saturday & Sunday
during January, February, and early March 2003. Further information on website http://www.tren.cl and open the section Viajes
Turístocos.
Visiting shipping enthusiasts may also wish to sample the SS Collico, an excursion river
steamer, while in Valdivia.
Puerto Montt: By the bus station are two plinthed 2-6-0’s, one no. 606, the other
carries no identification.
Castro (Chiloe island): 0-6-0T no. 5057 from the island’s narrow gauge railway
(closed 1960) is plinthed at the site of Castro station.
Santiago Railway Museum
David Pendlebury tell me that he and Chris Cairns have produced a very
welcome pictorial
guide to the Santiago railway museum - http://www.lcgb.org.uk/html/santiagomuseum.htm
following their visit in November 2006
(24th January 2007). There are more than 30
pictures together with a map and other information on the museum.
Colombia Index
Older reports are now available as follows:
Bogota Steam Specials
The Savanna tourist steam train ("Tren Turistico de la Sabana"
(TURISTREN))
has regularly run out of Bogota since 1993 at weekends and on selected
weekdays on charter, the company's website is www.turistren.com.co. Company
representative Eduardo Rodriguez first contacted me in June 2001 and
supplied information
on the stock and operation and also some pictures of the locomotives at work
(19th September 2001).
Costa Rica Index
Don't get excited, I know of no live steam here but several visitors have
commented on the current situation in the country which includes a tourist
train and occasional freight operation. Click here for more
information (latest entry 7th November 2005)
Cuba Index
Until 2002, there was 'real' great American style shortline steam operation during the
annual Zafra (roughly December to April with a peak in February/March). By
2004 it was 98% plastic, I believe 2005 was 99% plastic, there was, if anything
even less in 2006 according to the
various reports received (updated, 17th March 2006). Real steam
during the 2007 was almost non-existent , with just one working steam locomotive
(and possibly one or more unreported firelesses) - see the
Zafra 2007 report (updated 30th May 2007).
How RTC can square that with "there are many steam locomotives, all over
eighty years old, twenty of which are in daily use during the Cuban sugar cane
harvest 'Zafra'" beats me. There were barely 10 real steam locomotives that
turned a wheel at all in 2005, it was certainly wasn't true in 2006 and it was
even less true in 2007. Of course, if you count steam on the tourist trains you
might get a bit nearer the mark. All the previous reports which chart the demise
of one of the last great steam experiences in the world have now been
transferred to a
separate page.
If you want a quick fix of an excellent photographic display of what you
may have missed - check out David
Longman's Cuba Gallery (28th June 2007).
Minaz placed 55 redundant steam locomotives on sale - click
here for more information (4th September 2004). I am not sure how many were
ever sold, they didn't include many 'gems' and I believe the price asked did not
reflect the poor condition of most of them.
And then there was one... By 2008, there was very little left as a memory of the good old
days will be the growing museum at Christina Station in Havana and tourist
operations at Trinidad and a number of (closed) mills. Yoshi Matsuo tells me
that a visit to Manalich mill found the line to the shed overgrown and no sign
of 1402 with a Hector Molina reportedly going directly to the loading point (3rd
March 2008). Meanwhile ex- Hermanos Ameijeilas 1431 was serviceable at
Parque Lenin, normally on Saturdays and Sundays only. Tim Murray adds (17th
March 2008): "The 2 standard gauge Manalich locos still in shed but not used this season. Likely to go to museum. They have a diesel (34064) that now goes to the LP.
The Trinidad tourist train loco is laid up until at least the end of April. The PTG group had steam at
Bartholomew Masa mill. The loco still does patio work on a regular basis and the staff claimed that it would work next season.
The 2-8-0 from Venezuela has gone to Patrio o Morte and is working the tourist train.
Ciro Redondo has two 2-8-0s in shed 'under repair' including 1829. Three of the other 2-8-0s are dumped at the back of the mill."
Alan Pearce and Alan Murray-Rust visited the Havana area and recorded
some old friends, some of which stagger on like the Hershey and others
which have literally been put out to grass (18th April
2008). A later report (2nd June 2008)
suggested that 1402 at Manalich worked early in the season pending diesel
repairs, 1204 was active at Prieto near the airport and 1728 at J.M. Perez
both on occasions, with the Brasil firelesses more reliable performers.
There have been some
tours which have run Minaz steam locomotives on the main line, to say that the
results have been mixed would be the politest way of putting it judging from
the informal reports I have had. Does all this herald the
death of communism in Cuba?
For those with a wider (historical) interest, Wayne Weiss
recommends an excellent site on Cuba tramways http://www.tramz.com/cu/tto.html
(22nd May 2003), similarly check out a Central Santa Lucia site (Rafael Freyre
Mill) - updated 3rd October 2001.
|
Cuba Steam Center USA
Houston Roundhouse, 3264 South Loop West
Houston, Texas 77025
(713)662-0809
Contact Wayne Weiss for books, videos etc |
If you missed out last
time then you need to get yourself a copy of the second edition of:
Industrial Steam Locomotives of Cuba
Full
details on the IRS Book Page.
|
1500 pictures of 20 years of steam in Cuba's Sugar Mills
on CD ROM:
Zafra
For full details and how to order, click here! |
Ecuador Index
The Guayaquil
and Quito Railroad is potentially one of the most splendid train journeys in the
world. The days when it could be covered in its entirety by public train are
long gone, but as conditions allow trains operate for visiting tour groups on.
For example, the RTC group in October 2007 as reported by Steve Pratt (30th
November 2007) "We tried to cover as much of the G&Q as possible. Steam:
Duran-Yaguachi-Duran (Baldwin No.11); Railcar: Bucay-Huigra-Alausi; Steam:
Alausi-Devil's Nose-Palmira-Riobambe (Baldwin No.17); Steam: Riobambe-Urbina-Riobambe (Baldwin No. 53); Railcar:
Boliche-Tambillo. Some of the track is in very poor condition, but the tourist railbuses are still running regularly. Next year (2008) is the centenary of the line reaching Quito, so there could be some celebrations, though the practicality of running through the city into the centre of Quito look remote."
Trains Unlimited
Tours claim (12th August 2008) that
rebuilding will be almost complete by mid-2009 and that a significant number
of steam locomotives will be operable by then.
Click below for reports:
Other information on railways in Ecuador
- Allan Crotty's site - http://mysite.freeserve.com/hotmetal/index.html.
(12th February 2002)
- Ivor Kelly advises that there is a book on the historical side of the Ecuador Railway "The
Redemptive Work - railway and nation in Ecuador 1895-1930" by A. Kim Clark, ISBN
0-8420-2674-6"
El Salvador Index
Steam survived here on charter operations. You can read a report of the TUT visit in January 2002 (27th March
2002). However, I have my doubts whether such a visit is still repeatable.
French Guyana Index
Chris Hodrien has pointed out to me that this site http://www.revue.inventaire.culture.gouv.fr/insitu/insitu/article.xsp?numero=8&id_article=goergen-1575
has a picture of a derelict 0-4-0T at Tigre. More information would be
appreciated (7th December 2007).
Guatemala Index
RDC has now announced suspension of operations in Guatemala (3rd
August 2007) citing the government's failure to honour its contract
with the company and the failure of its legal system to enforce it. The
dispute will now go to the Central America Free Trade Agreement (Cafta) for
arbitration. Whatever happens there, this is bad news for the railway, its
steam locomotives and especially the people on it who worked very hard to
restore and operate it in the last few years. And, in turn, it is bound to
have a knock-on effect on any attempts to revitalise other railways in the
region. Click
here for three articles from US newspapers which include the background to
the decision.
RDC (http://www.rrdc.com) operates the
3ft gauge Ferrovias
Guatemala (the private company which restored Fegua, Ferrocarriles de Guatemala, to partial operation after its 1996 abandonment)
and maintains two steam locomotives in operable condition for special trains
for its business customers or tourists. Their operation is described in the
links below.
Click below for reports:
The picture below shows 204 doing a bit of real work while on test
before the 2004 event.
This pictures shows why it is such an attractive operation:
Panama Index
No active steam, but a long submerged steam loco and
train have been recovered from a storage reservoir for the Panama Canal (23rd May
2000), with the prospect of more to come.... Mike Clendining has now provided
some pictures of the restored engine and the
current railway situation in the country (16th May 2007).
Paraguay Index
This is possibly the only all steam state railway left in the world, although
these days it is very much a rump operation with the main line severed .
Interest centres on three features:
- Encarnación
- shunting traffic for the link with Argentina (latest report (25th April
2007)
- Sapucay
- the original workshop which ought to be a world heritage site with its
ancient machinery and another potential tourist operation (latest report
25th January 2007)
- Asunción
- which has had a regular tourist train on occasions (last reported
suspended in December 2006, on 25th January 2007)
Click on the links below for more information:
This is Ian Thomson's picture.
Peru Index
Historically there have been a fair few rusty hulks around the country,
several of which have been the subject of speculation about renovation to
operating condition and one or two have actually made it. However, it seems that
realistic steam operation is centred on:
As I am definitely not an expert on steam in this part of the world, I have
tried my best to extract information from the various reports to get a clearer
picture, but mistakes there will be! Click below for other reports and general
information:
Dale Brown
who lives part time in Lima
reports on the then current scene
(2nd September 2000):
South
Georgia Index
A short article in Locomotives International included the statement that
there was probably at least one surviving stationary steam engine and steam
locomotive at the
former whaling station of Ocean Harbour. An internet search found pictures of
a single cylinder horizontal engine and a steam winch taken in the 1990s - http://www.railwaysofthefarsouth.co.uk/11bwhalingstatio.html. Robert
Burton of the South
Georgia Association has provided a succinct
summary of the situation with including a picture of a steam locomotive (14th
October 2007) - I have yet to see a positive identification
Surinam Index
Ton Mulder has sent me some pictures of dumped steam locomotives in this former Dutch
colony. I have now posted these
and added some background information supplied by Chris Walker (more information 1st
May 2000). Ton now reports (16th May 2001) that a Dutch business has signed a letter of
intent with the Surinam Government to reactivate up to 90km of the line which
Well, that was the theory. In practice, Hans Scherpenhuizen tells me he
visited Onverwacht on 26 January 2005 (report added 21st
March 2005). The situation was more or less the same as depicted in 2000. No restoration
had taken place. The station canopy had collapsed, which means the rolling stock
was left in the open to disintegrate. One engine seems to have moved to a plinth
at the adjacent road to the station: the 0-4-0 unidentified tank engine. Here
are two of the pictures he sent, the second locomotive is Breda built 'Para':
Uruguay Index
Active steam in Uruguay is mainly provided by the locomotives of these
three organisations:
This page naturally concentrates on 'live' steam as opposed to
'preserved/conserved/stored' steam. I added photographs of surviving
steam locomotives in Uruguay courtesy of regular correspondent Marcelo
Benoit (updated 9th May 2006), you can contact
Marcelo on marcelobenoit@redfacil.com.uy. Try
http://members.tripod.com/lfu1/index-24.html
which links to all Uruguayan railway pages. Tabaré Bordach of CEFU
had previously provided information on other
remaining narrow gauge steam locomotives (updated 3rd
August 2007)
A word of explanation about the two preserved Uruguayan N
class 2-6-0s. For some years (1991 to 2005) CEFU's 119 masqueraded as 120. Now
the real 120 has been restored by AUAR it has been given its true number back,
but in some images on this site it will obviously carry '120'. Simple? As a
result, I have tried to describe her as 119 (120), but is possible that some
references have escaped my attention.
Here is the real 120 recently restored, in steam on 28th April
2007, an absolute charmer at a mere 97 years old (picture by Marcelo Benoit
added 3rd August 2007):
As part of my streamlining of this page to make it more
manageable, I have set up 4 separate pages to cover the more recent news of
the four most significant preserved steam locomotives. Note that sometimes
more than one of them operates on any particular occasion and some duplication
of text (but not pictures) may occur in these pages.
Earlier reports of steam in Uruguay between 1999 and 2003 are covered in
a separate page.
Finally Marcelo Benoit reports that 2005's Heritage day
celebrations on September 24th and 25th (added 22nd October 2005) included AUAR's steam crane exhibited by ANP on Montevideo Port
dockside.
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Nick Lera
Video: 