When I was there in 1991 the regular service trains were single headed. I came down with TUT and then stayed after to shoot the service trains. The TUT train from Jacobacci to Esquel was tacked onto the regular service train and was double headed. TUT's photo freights were double headed. I don't know what the grades are on the line, but between Esquel and Nahuel Pan it's all up hill and there is a long climb out of Cerro Mesa northbound, either of which might be the ruling grade on the line.
The crews were very obliging and made smoke when they saw us along the line. By 1991 there was no freight business to speak of. Most freight cars were company service, mainly oil tankers for the locomotives. The typical train was three coaches, a baggage car, an oil tank or two and possibly a box car with company stores.
General Roca weekly mixto near Cerro Mesa in Rio Negro state. 1991
General Roca weekly mixto near Leleque in Chubut state. 1991 The grey box cars and the diner on the tail end had been used in the TUT charter and were being sent back to Esquel in the service train.
Michael Allen