Re: Colorful ng. in Brazil

John,
Thanks for sharing the great photos. I visted the VFCO in November of 1982 and understand that floods washed out parts of the line in January of 1983. The cement plant at Baroso (the principal source of freight traffic) closed that same year, when the big Itaipu dam was completed, so the line was never reopened.
I think the tracks were still open to Antonio Carlos (your turntable shot) after the flood, but it were cut back to Tiradentes fairly soon. This is the other end of the tourist operation.
The train shed at Sao Jao del Rei is amazing. I also loved the screech and hoot of the single chime whistles. The whole cab would fill with steam when the engineer blew it.
Were any of the outside frame 4-4-0's running while you were there? I was lucky enough to get a cab ride from Tiradentes back to Sao Jao in one.
Sao Jao del Rei and the VFCO are well worth a visit even as a tourist operation.
Michael Allen