Re: Riding trains between Guatemala City and Escuintla
| March 29, 2021 09:47PM |
On August 20, 1967, our group meet in New Orleans and flew on Pan Am to Guatemala City. On August 21 we traveled by regular passenger train diesel hauled to Escuintla, enjoying steam action for the rest of the day, and a return to Guatemala by a two-engine mixed train.
Here our down train is meeting a two-engine freight northbound on Palin Hill
The scenic ride to Escuintla passed Lake Amatitlan and the two volcanoes Agua (12,340 ft) and Fuego (12,346 ft). Fuego is perpetually active, but on the days we were there the volcano was not as active as on this day (not my photo)
From the rear platform of our chartered business car, Fuego appeared fairly calm, only showing some steam and smoke rising around the crater rim, which was probably just as well
In Escuintla we first wandered over to the round house while we waited for steam powered trains to arrive. 2-8-0 39 was clearly not working that day
It was not long before more trains started arriving in Escuintla and switching moves started
Here our down train is meeting a two-engine freight northbound on Palin Hill
The scenic ride to Escuintla passed Lake Amatitlan and the two volcanoes Agua (12,340 ft) and Fuego (12,346 ft). Fuego is perpetually active, but on the days we were there the volcano was not as active as on this day (not my photo)
From the rear platform of our chartered business car, Fuego appeared fairly calm, only showing some steam and smoke rising around the crater rim, which was probably just as well
In Escuintla we first wandered over to the round house while we waited for steam powered trains to arrive. 2-8-0 39 was clearly not working that day
It was not long before more trains started arriving in Escuintla and switching moves started
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488 stops for water at Los Pinos tank on closing day Oct. 1979. Photo courtesy Don Richter
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