Re: Any word on the Rio Turbio narrow gauge?

When the TUT tour was proposed, the Mayor and all the locals were excited that some tourists would come to their little city. In reality the project was not well planned. The extension to Chile was based on building more trackage across the Chilean border to a port on the Pacific side of the continent. Funding to finish the first part of rebuilding locos and cars never arrived to the railroad. Also the proposed use of tourist trains to cross the continent from port to port was pipe dream. This is one of the most lonely and remote part of Patagonia, with little for tourist to see and enjoy for a nearly 12 to 14 hour run of over 300 Kms. This is not the spectacular part of the Andes and the crossing of the divide is relatively low compared to other points to the north.

Only two steamers are serviceable at Rio Turbio (very questionable as to reliabilty) and no new passenger cars completed. I have not heard of any updates on the project. The railroad continues to haul coal to Rio Gallagos behind Romanian diesels.Trains run when there is a trainload of coal to take to the port. A large number of dumped steam locos are in Rio Gallagos and will never steam again.

Dale Brown

Photo one and two at Rio Turbio
Third photo behind museum at Rio Gallagos






Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/22/2009 02:28PM by DWBrown.