Re: The Narrow Gauge In Ecuador - Dear Doubting Thomas

One thing that we learned from the EFE officials is that they are going to do business differently than in the past. In the past several operators used the trains of the former ENFE without paying any track fees. They only paid for crews, fuel and support personel. The new General Manager said that in the future Klein Tours, Metropoltano and Ecotours will have to pay full fare.

Also operators can deal directly with the management. No single Ecuadorian tour operator has a exclusive operating rights.

So expect tour prices to be higher and maybe a new learning experience. Also very little of the original equipment is left in original configuration. New coaches, boxcars with seats, and other funky equipment have been built for the tourist market. For some of the traditional railfan tour groups it may be more difficult to make a typical looking former Ferrocarril Ecuadoriano rolling stock. If the management want to keep the tour groups returning, they will need to keep a typical trainset available for charter trains. Some of the new coaches are beautifully constructed, except for the funky plastic seats on the roofs. A new ladder allows passenger to reach the roof. Same with some of the boxcars.

Still I think that preservation of the line is a great progress. If the management can keep trains operating for the tourist trade and another speciality market for the railfan/photographers charter trains it can be a great experience.

Best of all, if the track is repaired maybe a train can complete the run without a major derailment that was typical of most tours in mid-90's and later into the 21st century.

Michael isn't one of the tour operators you mentioned out of business?

Dale Brown