Re: Narrow Gauge Baldwins in Patagonia

Thanks for posting, these pictures bring back great memories. I was able to ride the express in 2000 for a week (only the southern half) and again in 2007 for three days (the full line) and took something like 2000 photos between the two trips. My plan was to map out each station's trackage and photograph every type of rolling stock; I was mostly successful. The fact is that sitting on the back stoop of the fourgon (caboose) for much of the running time, talking with friends and the crew, sipping mate and watching the desert roll past was the real highlight of the trips--though long lunches with a bottle of fantastic wine in the diner car was a close second. Other highlights include rocking in a lightless car at full speed in the insanely dark night to make Esquel after a breakdown, helping the road's superintendent chase down an armadillo in the middle of nowhere (the train specifically was stopped for this and the mechanic took the creature home for dinner) and being on the train during a double-headed derailment due to a split switch that took four freight cars with it but none of the passenger gear. I made good friends on these trips, people who I still travel to visit in Europe and who have come over here to visit. That's Patagonia--fantastic, beautiful, super nice people and a train that may be the closest thing to riding the Carson & Colorado or Nevada Central that still exists.

Dave Eggleston