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July 24, Thursday (D) Independant international airrives in Lima, Peru. Check-in at the 5-star Marriott Hotel . Welcome to South America dinner will start at 7:00pm. The restaurant is only a few minutes walk from our hotel. We have arranged for a family that specializes in home cooked meals to serve our group what is called: "Old fashion Lima Style Dinner"
We will stay at the 5-star Marriott Hotel overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
July 25, Friday (B-L) Morning sightseeing tour of Lima. Afternoon visit to Surco narrow gauge train, Parque Reducto and narrow gauge loco 102, 2-8-2, Tranvia (Lima Electric Railways car) in Tram Barranco. We will have lunch at the best of most famous restaurant in Lima at the La Rosa Nautica which is on a pier over the Pacific Ocean. 2nd night at the Marriott Hotel
Above 3 photos taken at the Surco Park near Lima. Photos by Hans Berninzon
Lunch at the popular La Rosa Nautica Restaurant near Lima
JULY 26 SATURDAY: (B-L-D) We depart from Lima's Desamparados Train Station at 7:00am onboard
the regular once a month tourist train running to Huancayo on the FC Andina which is the former Peru Central.
The new monthly tourist train is back on track after being cancelled by the railroad a couple of years ago. Local Peruvian tour operators put the vast amount of money into rebuilding the train. The newly refurbished coaches are very comfortable and includes a bar car and observation at the rear of the train.
It is a daylight run between Lima and Huancayo over what is considered the most spectacular stretch of railroad in the world and an engineering marvel. We will travel over 21 switchbacks, 61 bridges, 66 tunnels on a 4% grade and this will take us from sealevel to 15,693 feet at Galera Summit.
We arrive in Huancayo at 6:00PM and hotel check-in at the 3 star Hotel Presidente.
Desamparados Station in Lima
THE ABOVE TWO PHOTOS ARE OF THE NEWLY REFURBISHED TRAIN NOW MAKING A RUN ONCE A MONTH LIMA TO HUANCAYO. BELOW ARE A SET OF PHOTOS TAKEN OVER THE YEARS OF TRAINS UNLIMITED, TOURS CHARTERS RUNNING EASTBOUND FROM LIMA TO HUANCAYO.
July 27, Sunday (B-L) In the morning we will go to visit the FC Huancayo and Huancavelica workshops. This railroad has been three foot narrow gauge since it was built, but is now being regauged to standard. You will see both narrow gauge and standard gauge equipment and enignes at the shops and yards. The yard is dual gauge at this time until the project is completed. The government closed down the entire line to Huacavelica in 2004. After many protests from the locals folks that live in the remote villages along this line, the Peruvian government has decided to regauge the railroad to standard and start offering train service again. The railroad is the only way to get in and out for some of these small Andian villages. It is interesting to note that TUT had the honors of running the last narrow gauge charter train in 2004 just before closure and will now run the first standard gauge charter train in 2008. It is not clear if the entire line will be completed all the way to Huancavelica by July. We have requested with the railroad that if it is not completed then we will run our standard gauge train over the section that has been completed by July. We return to Huancayo for a 2nd night at the Hotel Presidente.
Below are photos taken of Trains Unlimited, Tours excurisons on this line when it was still narrow gauge. The same diesels and rolling stock are now being used and have all been regauged to standard gauge.
July 28, Monday (B-L-D) WE HAVE STEAM FOR PART OF THE DAY!
We have a full day of charter train action planned for you today including diesel and steam from Huancayo all the way to Cerro de Pasco and return. We first depart early in the morning on our charter diesel train on the FC
Centro Andino (Former Peru Central) running across the vast Huancayo Valley to La Oroya, location of the large copper smelter and railroad workshops. This is a busy place with trains arriving and departing on four lines.
Upon arrival at the station you can walk over to the workshops to see what is going on. As a general rule there is
always a line-up of diesel power on the ready track or in the roundhouse featuring several different models including:
Alco models DL-535B, 560, 560B, 543B and Montreal models RS-8, RSD-39 plus Villares/GM JT26CW-2's and GM-EMD GA-8's. But, we have a big surprise for you. We have arranged for the last operating steam locomotive on the system to take charge of our train here with No. 206 is a 2-8-2 Beyer Peacock built in 1937.
Once the diesel is taken off and No. 206 is replaced on our train we are off heading out of La Oroya northbound on the former mainline of the Cerro de Pasco Railroad running to the copper mine. As we climb out of the valley we will of course make as many photo run-bys as time will permit. At the Zig-Zag switchbacks we will
play with our steam train making several photo run-bys on the lower and upper switchbacks, called Zig Zag Abajo and Zig Zag Arriba. A diesel backup unit will be following us, as this will be needed north of the switchbacks because of the very steep grade and No. 206 will not be able to handle our train without help. The diesel will couple into the rear of our train and give a push up to the La Cima siding. Here No. 206 will be uncoupled and the diesel run around our train and will then pull us over for the rest of the journey to the copper mine at Cerro de Pasco. Meanwhile, the 2-8-2 will turn on the wye at Junin and wait for our return down off of the mountain. When we arrive back in Junin the diesel comes off and steam back on for the journey back to La Oroya. The diesel unit will follow a ways behind our train. Back in La Oroya we then change back to diesel power and you can take photos of No. 206 going to the barn and on the turntable before we depart for the return run back to Huancayo. This will give us some 70 miles today behind steam. 3rd night at the hotel Presidente.
Above is the vast workshop at La Oroya. You will have enough time to explore this complex before the train departs for Lima The photos below were taken on a number of TUT charters between La Oroya and Lima over the past few years.
Departing from La Oroya on the Cerro de Pasco line we are please to announce that
Beyer Peacock No. 206, a 2-8-2 built in 1937 will pull our train.
The above photos were taken on the last charter train excurison TUT ran on the Cerro de Pasco Railroad out of La Oroya.
July 29, Tuesday (B-L) This morning we return to the FC Centro Andino and board our special reserved cars on the regular tourist train for the return journey down the mountain to Lima, again running over 21 switchbacks, through 66 tunnels and over 61 bridges on 4% grades. Some photo stops will be made. For those rail photographers that are interested we can make arrangements for you to do some fantastic linesiding of the train from the highway over the most spectacular sections. Upon arrival back in Lima we again check-into the Marriott Hotel.
July 30, Wednesday (B) Morning transfer to the Lima airport for our short one hour flight to Cusco at 11,852 feet , gateway to the Inca Empire. Hotel check-in at the 5 star Hotel Libertador in downtown Cusco. In the afternoon we will take you on a city tour and the surrounding area. Cusco is a spectacular colonial city that sits in a valley at 10,852 feet and is famous for its many colonial churches, buildings, plazas and extensive Inca ruins. Also for those folks interested we will visit the workshops of the former 3-foot gauge Cusco & Santa Ana , now operated by Peru Rail. Cusco was an administrative, military and holy city and is now the oldest inhabited city of the Americas. As a result, many splendid styles of architecture are found here, with the monasteries and cathedrals in Cusco reflecting the diversity of cultural influences on the city. Cuzco's Main Square is an ideal meeting place as it is the hub of the restaurants and bars in Cuzco. Beautiful arcades with many shops and craft boutiques offer varied souvenirs, designed by local craftsmen. The vibrant street markets in Cuzco should also not be missed.
We stay two nights at the 5-star Hotel Libertador in Cuzco
July 31, Thursday (B) We board the early morning tourist train on the former Cusco & Santa Ana Railroad on three foot gauge , now operated by Peru Rail for the run to Macchu Picchu, the lost city of the Incas. You will have several hours to explore Macchu Picchu before reboarding the train for the return to Cuzco. PeruRail runs trains between Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley of the Incas and Machu Picchu. The beautiful valley, known as 'Vilcamayo' to the Incas, stretches out from the Inca citadels of Pisac to Ollantaytambo along the Urubamba River or "Sacred River". Pisac is a small, pretty town just 15 miles from Cusco. At the market of Pisac, indigenous vendors gather dressed in colourful, traditional clothing to sell their produce to one another and their crafts to you.The ancient village of Urubamba, a former agricultural centre of the Incas, is a beautiful area with great fruit production. The village, with its bustling market, still retains its traditional Andean charm and sits in the outskirts of the majestic snowy mountain Chicón. Urubamba and the surrounding Sacred Valley area is famous for its incomparable landscape and breathtaking beauty that surrounds it.
THE LOST CITY OF THE INCAS
Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas, is one of the most famous examples of Inca architecture and is located 70 miles from the city of Cuzco, 7705 feet above sea level. The ruins are surrounded by lush jungle and are believed to have been built in the mid-15th century by Inca Pachacutec. Lost in history, the ruins were not discovered until 1911 by the American explorer, Hiram Bingham. This famous citadel combines the visual and spiritual force of magnificent natural scenery with a historic sanctuary, and was recently recognised as one of the 'New 7 Wonders of the World'. The ruins themselves are situated on the eastern slope of Machu Picchu in two separate areas - agricultural and urban. The latter includes the civil sector (dwellings and canalisations) and the sacred sector (temples, mausoleums, squares and royal houses). The history of Machu Picchu says that only the Inca and his noblemen, priests, priestesses and chosen women (Acllas) had free access to the premises of the Machu Picchu sanctuary.The construction was generally in stone and the roofs were built of tree trunks and thatched with straw. The walls lean slightly inward to protect against earthquakes. Situated opposite Machu Picchu, is Huayna Picchu, the peak of which offers panoramic views of the imposing spread of the Machu Picchu ruins and the Urubamba Valley.
August 1, Friday (B-L) We depart from Cusco at 7:00am onboard the tourist train "Andean Explorer" operated by Peru Rail over the former Southern Railroad of Peru on standard gauge to Puno on Lake Titicaca, a distance of 240 miles. A photo stop will be made for 30 minutes at La Raya Pass which is at 14,100 feet and is the high point on this line. This is a spectacular train journey with breathtaking views of the snow capped Andes. By late afternoon the train will be running along the shores of Lake Titicaca , at 12, 639 feet, before arrival in Puno, which is scheduled for 6:00pm. Transfer and hotel check-in at the 5-star Hotel Libertador which is several hundred feet offshore on an island in the lake with spectacular views of the water and mountains. There is a road bridge that connects the hotel with the mainland.
Near Puno we stay two nights at the luxury 5-star Hotel Libertador which is located on an island overlooking the city and Lake Titicaca.
August 2, Saturday (B) Free day at Leisure in Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca. Optional tours available to the floating islands or the Puno market. For the railfans the mainline of the railroad runs along the shores of the lake just a few hundred feet from our hotel. You might want to be out on the mainline to catch the morning departure of the passenger train heading back to Cusco.
The first Spanish settlement in Puno sprang up around a silver mine discovered by the infamous Salcedo brothers in 1657. In 1668 Puno was created as the capital of the region and from then on developed as the main port of Lake Titicaca and an important town on the silver trail from Potosi. The town was further boosted late in the nineteenth century by the arrival of the railway. Many areas of interest can be found in and around Puno. Take a drive to Copacabana and visit the remote towns of Juli and Pomata on the way before boarding the hydrofoil to the Sun Island where, according to legend, the first Inca appeared. After exploring the island's Inca remains and majestic views of Lake Titicaca and surrounding Andean mountains, continue on to Huatajata for a brief stop. Take an excursion on the Lake to the Uros Islands, floating islands where you can purchase splendid handicrafts, and to Taquile Island. At Taquile Island be prepared for the 500 steps, which must be tackled to get to the village but is well worth the effort for the view alone. Another wonderful trip from Puno is a half-day excursion to Sillustani and its chullpas (pre-Columbian funeral towers) scenically set high above pristine Lake Ayumara.The first Spanish settlement in Puno sprang up around a silver mine discovered by the infamous Salcedo brothers in 1657. In 1668 Puno was created as the capital of the region and from then on developed as the main port of Lake Titicaca and an important town on the silver trail from Potosi. The town was further boosted late in the nineteenth century by the arrival of the railway. Lake Titicaca is the world's highest navigable lake covering an area of 5000 square miles and it is 106 miles long and 40 miles wide. The mighty lake straddles the border of Bolivia and Peru and is dotted with dozens of islands, each of them with their own characteristics and peculiarities. The floating islands of the Uros, whose inhabitants descend from one of the oldest known tribes in the Americas, feature typical native huts made from reeds.
August 3, Sunday (B-L) Today we have a private charter train on Peru Rail on the freight only line to Arequipa. Just a bit past sunrise our train will pull up in front of the hotel and wait for us to board. We will stage a nice photo run-by next to Lake Titicaca before departing for the 221 mile journey down the mountain to Arequipa. We have requesed that one of the rare Alco long noise Alligator's pull our train today. At Juliaca we will make a 30 minute stop for you to visit the workshops which also has two former Peru Southern steam locomotives stored and one on display at the station. Back onboard our train switches off to the Arequipa line. Once we get into the mountains the tracks run along the shores of a wonderful Alpine type lake called "Laguna Saracocha" where we will have several spectacular photo run-bys with the lake in the background. As we continue to climb up the moutain the tracks run high above another lake called "Laguna Lagunillas" where you can see the spine of the Andes 50 miles away, reaching up to 18,000 feet. Mid-day we will reach the summit of this line and the high point for the entire Peru Rail System at Crucero Alto at 14,679 feet. Don't worry, we have plenty of oxygen onboard and a medical staff. For the next hundred miles we will travel around the massive and active Chanchani Volcano reaching up to 19,918 feet in the sky. In fact you may be able to see alittle smoke rising up above the volcano. Several photo run-bys will be made with the volcano in the background. Arrival in Arequipa will be around 7:00pm. Hotel check-in at the 5-star Hotel Libertador.
In Arequipa we stay at the 5-star Hotel Libertador
August 4, Monday (B-L) In the morning you will have the options to relax at the hotel and have a leisure breakfast and enjoy the hotel gardens, or take the Arequipa City tour or visit the general diesel rebuilding workshops for Peru Rail before we reboard our charter train and continue our westward journey down the mountain and towards the Pacific Ocean. Again ,this is rare freight only tackage to the seaport of Mollendo. We have also requested a side trip to the other seaport of Matarani which is the container port and also of which a passenger train has never been on this line. This is very rare milage. After arriving in Mollendo you will have some time to explore the colorful town plaza before we board our charter motorcoach and head south to Port Ilo. Overnight at Port Ilo at the Hotel Karina.
Morning visit to the Peru Rail's workshops. Alco fans can even find the shell of
one of the export PA's passenger engines.
In Mollendo you will have sometime to explore the central plaza before we depart for Port Ilo.
August 5, Tuesday (B-L) In the morning we will visit the unique Port Ilo cultural museum. The Southern Peru Copper Corporation no longer allows groups to visit the workshops or ride on their trains , but they have agreed to give us the morning schedule so that we can go out on the line and get a few photos of the trains. After we have done this then we continue on to Tacna by charter motorcoach. Check-in at the 4 star Gran Hotel Tacna.
The Catheral in Tacna, Peru
The Catheral in Tacna which is one block form our hotel
August 6, Wednesday (B-L) Morning visit to the FC Tacna-Arica workshops and railroad museum before we board our charter railcar for the run Tacna, Peru to Arica, Chile. There will also be the regular public run out on the line, so we will be able to make a meet and photogrpah both railcars side by side someplace near the border of Peru and Chile. In Arica we will be running past the FC Arica-La Paz (Railroad) workshops which is reported as being totally closed down. We have made several requests for our group to visit these workshops and so far no one answers our requests. We will continue to seek permission to visit the workshops. Since the railroad is closed down all of the staff have been laid off and the offices closed. Upon arrival in downtown Arica we will also give you a Arica city tour before hotel check-in at the 4-star Hotel Panamericana which is on the Pacific. A wonderful hotel with great views of the ocean.
In Arica we stay at the 4-star Hotel Pan Americana which is located on the Pacific Ocean.
Workshops of the now closed Arica-La Paz Railroad Arica, Chile
August 7, Thursday (B-L) Today we will travel by charter motor coach from Arica, Chile to La Paz, Bolvia on the new paved highway. If the FC Arica-La Paz railroad starts running trains again then we will run a charter Bolivan railcar out of Arica to Bolivia. The new paved highway and some other problems has caused this railroad to totally close down. On our journey to La Paz we will make several scenic stops to take photos of the spectacular scenery and the snow covered volcanoes. Arrival in La Paz will be in the late afternoon or early evening. Check-in at the 4 star Hotel Europa in downtown La Paz.
The journey between Chile and Bolivia is quite scenic with several snow capped volcanoes and crystal clear lakes.
While in La Paz we stay at the 4-star Hotel Europa
Downtown La Paz, Bolivia in the evening
August 8, Friday We have some good news. The former Guaqui Railroad has been reopened in December 2007 for special train movements and we have been given permission to run a railcar from El Alto all the way to Guaqui on Lake Titicaca . Railroad management has tentatively agreed to having a steam pulled train waiting for us at Tiwanaku. Here we will transfer to this steam train for the rest of the run to Guaqui. The passenger equipment is very interesting....we will use a couple of the former classic Guaqui Railroad Brill Built Tram cars! At Guaqui we will visit the old steam workshops of the Guaqui Railroad which has several locomotives stored here including one of the big Baldwin 2-10-2's. We have requested that all of the operating steam be fired up and in operation around the workshop and docks area. We have heard reports from railroad management that the opening of this line is only a political move by the new president and his government and that this line could very well be closed without warning later in the year. Rare milage collectors...this could be your only chance to ride this line if it is again closed . After our visit in Guaqui we will reboard our charter railcar and return to El Alto which is just a few miles from La Paz. At Viacha we will stop to visit the large diesel and railcar workshops for the FCA rail system. After our workshop visit we reboard our charter railcar and continue to El Alto just outside of La Paz. Bus transfer to the Hotel Europa.
The above photos taken in Guaqui on the former Guaqui Railroad at the steam workshops, yards and docks on Lake Titicaca.
The workshops in Viacha, Bolivia has a large and interesting
collection of diesels and railcars
August 9, Saturday (B-L-D) We have a very long day today. We will board our charter railcar at El Alto and head south across the vast Bolivan Altiplano for Oruro and on to Uyuni, a distance of 337 miles. This is a very remote line with only a few small villages on the journey between Oruro and Uyuni. We will stop at some of these remote villages and make a number of photo run-bys as time permits. Uyuni was the most important railroad town in all of Bolvia. It was the general rebuilding steam workshops and junction for 3 major mainline lines from Chile, Argentina and Northern Bolvia. For the first time ever we will tie up here and spend the night. There are now some newer hotels in town that cater to the mining industry.
WE CROSS THE FAMOUS AND BOLIVIAN ALTIPLANO AT 11,000 FEET AND ARE TREATED TO
ONE OF THE MOST REMOTE AREAS OF THIS COUNTRY. THE BOLIVIAN ALTIPLANO IS
SAID TO BE ONE OF THE FLATEST AREAS IN THE WORLD WITH HUGE SALT FLATS
August 10, Sunday (B-L-D) For those tour members that would like to take a side trip up to the mining town of Pulacayo we will depart from our hotel in Uyuni early in the morning for the 14 mile journey by motorcoach. We will be following the original route of the first rail line to ever be built in Bolivia in 1883. Pulacayo is a importrant silver mining center and once was the largest in the World. From the riches taken out of this mine the entire coutnry of Bolivia was able develop into the 20th century. The railroad was built in 1883 from the Port of Antofagasta, Chile to Uyuni and on to Pulacayo for the export of the silver on 2' 6" gauge. This was called the Ferrocarril Uyuni-Pulacayo. Reuenue from the mine funded the building of this railway to Bolivia, which was completed in 1888. The mine and railroad were then closed in 1958 when the ore started to run out. This mining town now has 1620 inhabitants of which the great majority works in a cooperative mining group as the operations again start up. The Pulacayo mine is a joint venture with Apex Silver of Denver, Colorado to develop this mine. There has been over 678 million ounces of Silver, 200,000 tons of Zinc and 200,000 tons of Lead taken from the mine so far. Of extreme interest to our clients on this tour is the fact that the steam locomotives, ore cars, passenger cars and some rolling stock were all left to the elements back in 1958 and are still here. The workshop and turntable and some of the yard is still in place, including the locomotive and coach that was robbed by the famous North American thieves "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" We will show you the bullet holes left from this attack. For those tour members that would like to take a side trip up to the mining town of Pulacayo we will depart from our hotel in Uyuni early in the morning for the 14 mile journey by motorcoach. We will be following the original route of the first rail line to ever be built in Bolivia in 1883. Pulacayo is a importrant silver mining center and once was the largest in the World. From the riches taken out of this mine the entire coutnry of Bolivia was able develop into the 20th century. The railroad was built in 1883 from the Port of Antofagasta, Chile to Uyuni and on to Pulacayo for the export of the silver on 2' 6" gauge. This was called the Ferrocarril Uyuni-Pulacayo. Reuenue from the mine funded the building of this railway to Bolivia, which was completed in 1888. The mine and railroad were then closed in 1958 when the ore started to run out. This mining town now has 1620 inhabitants of which the great majority works in a cooperative mining group as the operations again start up. The Pulacayo mine is a joint venture with Apex Silver of Denver, Colorado to develop this mine. There has been over 678 million ounces of Silver, 200,000 tons of Zinc and 200,000 tons of Lead taken from the mine so far. Of extreme interest to our clients on this tour is the fact that the steam locomotives, ore cars, passenger cars and some rolling stock were all left to the elements back in 1958 and are still here. The workshop and turntable and some of the yard is still in place, including the locomotive and coach that was robbed by the famous North American thieves "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" We will show you the bullet holes left from this attack.
THE WORKSHOPS AND YARDS IN PULACAYO AND THE LONELY REMOTENESS OF IT ALL.
After our visit to Pulacayo we return to Uyuni and visit the steam workshops of the former ENFFCC which is packed full of retired steam locomotives including 2-8-2's, 2-6-0's , 2-8-0's , 2-10-2's 4-6-0's, 4-8-2's, 4-8-4's and a number of Beyer Peacock Garratts including 4-8-2+2-8-4's. Those tour members that would like to explore the town of Uyuni may do so while the railfans are at the workshop. Also we will go out to the steam locomotive bone yard a few miles out of Uyuni to explore the vast collection of steam locomotives. At last count there were over 50 steam locomotives in the area. The last time we visited Uyuni the only complaint we received from the railfans was that they wanted more time here. Well, we heard your complaints and now you will have the morning hours to check out the old steam locomotives. This is perhaps one of the largest collections of retired steam locomotives in South America. Late morning we reboard our charter railcar and head southwest out of Uyuni on the FCAB Antofagasta mainline stopping at Ollague to clear customs and immigration for Chile. The remote station of Ollague is right at the base of the active and smoking Ollague Volcano which reaches up to 12,115 feet. After clearing the border we are off for Calama. Arrival in Calama will be around sunset. This is a very remote line across the top of the Andes and many many miles will be run without seeing any signs of civilization except for the few mining ghost towns we will pass through and along the base of active volcanoes that still shoot smoke and ash into the ski. You will feel that you have reached the end of the earth on this line. Check-in at the 4 star Diego de Almagro Hotel.
Above photos taken at the Uyuni workshops and steam locomotive bone yard.
We make our way towards the border with Chile over some of the flatest railroad grade in Bolivia. The center photo above is a southbound train crosses from Bolivia and into Chile at Ollague.
August 11 Monday (B-L-D) Morning visit to the Chquicamata Copper Mine and the Chquicamata Industrial Railroad . This is the largest and deepest open Copper Mine in the World. After returning from the copper mine we will visit the FC Antofagasta & Bolivia (FCAB) workshops and diesel running shed in Calama before boarding our Bolivian railcar to continue our southwest journey across the Atacama Desert. We make our way across the desert passing a number of nirate mines and ghost towns and arrive at Baquedano. You will see that in this area of the Atacama Desert it has not rained for many years and you can see the old ox cart ruts carved in the sand. It looks like the ox cart went by just yesterday. Baquedano is a small desert town and very important railroad junction where the FCAB and the former Ferrocaril del Norte (Now called Ferronor) connect. Here we visit the old steam locomotive workshops of the former FC del Norte which has several Baldwin 2-8-2's in the roundhouse and a number of very old pieces of equipment including freight and passenger cars. The old roundhouse and steam locomotives are now owned by Parque Historicico Ferrocarril Baquedano. We have requested that Baldwin No. 3511 be fired up and running for our visit, but have been told some work needs to be done to the engine first. Once we visit the workshops and yard here at Baquedano we will have to board a charter motorcoach for the final jounrey to the Pacific Ocean at Antofagasta, as the FCAB has just decided that they will not allow any kind of passenger charters on the mainline between Baquedano and Antofagasta because this section of mainline is very busy with freight and mining trains. We will have enough time to stop trackside and photogrpah the many trains, as the highway follows the mainline all the way into Antofagasta. Upon arrival we check-in at the 5 star Hotel Panamerica. Note: Also we need to advise you that the FCAB is still pondering over their original approval to run our railcar between Calama and Baquedano because of the heavy freight traffic. They will make their final descision in late July.
In Antofagasta, Chile we stay at the 5-star Hotel Pan Americana on the Pacific Ocean
In the morning we visit the copper mine pit and the Chuquicamata Industry Railroad.
After our visit we reboard our charter Bolivian railcar and continue westbound and should be meeting a couple of FCAB eastbound freights.
In Antofagasta, Chile we stay at the 5-star Hotel Pan Americana on the Pacific Ocean
The Baquedano roundhouse and Baldwin No. 3511
The Ferronor connection at Baquedano
August 12 Tuesday (B-L) In the morning we board our charter motorcoach and head north up the the Chile Pacific Coast for 118 miles to Tocopilla. Here is the start of the famous Ferrocarril Tocopilla Al Toco which is on 3' 6" gauge and runs 66 miles up into the Atacama Desert Plateau to bring Nitrate down from the mines and to the seaport of Tocopilla. One section of the railroad climbs 3,300 feet in just 24 miles using steep grades of 4% and tight curves including two switch backs. This section is handled by seven GE box cab electric motors. Also the railroad and the nitrate mines have a large fleet of motive power including GE 90 ton Co-Co, Nippon Yusoki 41 ton center cabs, BLW-Westinghouse center cab Bo-Bo's, GE 30 ton Bo-Bo's , PCC's from the Los Angeles Railway and a fleet of classic diesel power such as: U12C's, U6B's, SW1200's , GR12's, U9B's, GE 44 ton center cabs including one from Relco and one from Pardee & Curtin Lumber Company, West Virginia, Whitcomb center cabs and the list goes on and on. We will be able to watch and photograph the nitrate trains between Tocopilla and Barrilles handled by the GE 60 ton Bo-Bo's and the diesel power that makes the transfers between the yards in Santa Elena and the electric yard at Barrilles. The Barrilles transfer yard can get quite busy all at once when an empty nitrate train arrives from Tocopilla and a loaded diesel pulled train arrives from Santa Elena, all at the sametime in which they swap trains and return to their starting points. We have also made a request to visit the workshops for both the mine electrics and diesels at Maria Elena and Pedro de Valdivia. This permission is still pending. At the end of the day we will return back to Antofagasta to our hotel.
The city of Tocopilla on the Pacific Coast of Chile
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THE FANTASTIC OPERATIONS
OF THE FERROCARIL TOCOPILLA AL TOCO |
August 13 Wednesday (B-L) In the morning we visit the vast FCAB diesel servicing and running shed . This is a very busy place. We have also requested that steam locomotive No. 34, a 2-8-2T built by Kitson-Myer and the only operating steam locomotive on the FCAB system be fired-up and in operation in the yards for photos. Since the FCAB has become very busy with many freight and mine trains arriving and departing from Antofagasta railroad management has had to reverse their decision on the operation of No. 34 to the Port of Mejillones with a charter passenger train. With the extreme traffic levels there is no way they can now find a slot for our charter on the mainline. We will also visit the very well maintained FCAB railroad museum which has many many items on display to tell the complete story of the FCAB and the many mines in the region. This is perhpas one of the best document and hardware type railroad museums in all of South America. You will be amazed at what the railroad kept from their long history and has had the foresight to display it in the company musuem. We then board our charter motorcoach and return to Baquedano where we plan to board our Bolivian railcar and depart eastbound for the run to Calama. On our way to Baquedano we will see and photograph plenty of FCAB mainline freights and mine runs. The same goes for the section between Baquedano and Calama. Please keep in mind that our charter railcar run between Baquedano and Calama is pending , as the FCAB management has had second thoughts because of the heavy traffic levels. Once we depart Baquedano we will make a stop at Oficina Chacabuco, a closed nitrate mine and processing plant now made into a national monument as a way to preserve the testimony of what was the industrial development of the nitrate in Northern Chile and the way of life during those times. This is an entire ghost town and intact complex left to the elements of the harsh Atacama Desert. Within this complex are the remains of the Ferrocarril Chucabuco. We then continue on to Calama and check-in at the Hotel Diego de Almagro.
We will visit the Oficina Chacabuco Nitrate complex and ghost town
August 14 Thursday (B-L-D) Early morning departure from Calama on our charter Bolivian railcar as we continue our journey northeast up into the Andean Mountains on the FC Antofagasta & Bolvia and towards the border of Bolivia . We will run back to Uyuni and tie up there.
The spectacular remoteness of this route and the Uyuni town center
August 15 Friday (B-L) Early morning departure from Uyuni as we now head north towards La Paz. We will stop at Machacamarca to visit the FC Machacamarca mining workshops. This railroad has been closed for many years now, but they have kept all of the rolling stock, steam locomotives, railcars, diesels and equipment at these shops. You will not believe what is here including a Swiss built Crocodile diesel, GM built Rio Grande Southern look alike Galloping Goose and model T railcar. We then continue northbound making a stop at Oruro to visit the former steam workshops which still has several locomotives stored here including the rare Lima built 2-Truck Shay. We then reboard our railcar for the last leg back to El Alto and the short transfer to the Hotel Europa in La Paz, Bolivia.
The vast Bolivian Altaplano and local indians
The above two photos taken at the Oruro steam workshops.
The above four photos taken at the Machacamarca Railroad workshops.
August 16 Saturday (B) After breakfast hotel check-out and end of the tour.
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