Narrow Gauge Steam climbing 8530 ft into the Andes 7-23-88

On the day following our sugar mill and mixed train adventure, we traveled 90 miles from Duran to Alausi, climbing 8530 ft. in the process. For the first 55 fairly level miles, only climbing 955 ft. from Duran to Bucay, our charter train was pulled by 2-6-0 11. For the next 34 miles of stiff climbing, with grades up to 5.6 percent from Bucay to Alausi, our train was in charge of 2-8-0 44. Leaving our Guayaquil at 5:30 am, took the bus across the Guaya river to Duran.

We found 2-8-0 17, lettered for the Sibambe - Cuenca railroad making up the morning mixed train to Bucay, as the regular mixed train mogul 11 was assigned to our charter train



Engine 11 was ready with our 3-car charter train. Even though it was intended for the charter train to leave first, the mixed train beat us to it



The tender was one of the choice places to experience the countryside and the engine in action





A few miles out of Duran we caught up with engine 17 and the mixed train as engine 17 was about to perform some switching moves



(to be continued)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/09/2022 11:31PM by Olaf Rasmussen.