International Railroad Discussion > Helpers passing

The IRCA mainline to Puerto Barrios had a sawtooth profile between Guatemala City and Rancho, crossing three separate divides with 3 percent grades coming and going. As a result trains operated with helpers in both directions. These pictures record a meet at Agua Caliente, where a Barrios bound train has backed into the spur (there was no passing loop) to meet a train to Guatemala City. The date is February 1971. The IRCA was nationalized at the end of 1968 but three of the four locomotives are still lettered for their former owners (IRCA and Compania Agricola, a United Fruit subsidiary that leased rolling stock to the railroad). In the early 60's the IRCA had been nearly dieselized, but financial problems made it difficult to import the spare parts for diesels, so steam was returned to service. The steam engines were old and worn, but the well equipped Guatemala shop could fabricated about anything needed for a steam engine.

JBWX



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/08/14 13:43 by jbwest.

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The caboose was also still lettered for the IRCA.

JBWX

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What guage?

And is that a BALDWIN diesel?? Wonder how it handles the grades and curves?

Thanks for posting !

coach Wrote:
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> What guage?
>
> And is that a BALDWIN diesel?? Wonder how it
> handles the grades and curves?

Three foot gauge, the diesel electric is a GE. The original 1200 h.p. GE locos (three truck C-B-C) handled the grades and curves just fine, as did some newer EMD and GE B-B's. However the last units Fegua acquired were from MILW with three axle trucks (C-C), and they did not do well on the curves at all, especially as the track deteriorated.

JBWX



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/08/14 15:20 by jbwest.

In a town called Hot Water. This is like something awesome out of a John Allen layout!

Outstanding photos.Those locos look to have the same heritage as some of the D&RGW narrow gauge locos.
Regards,DK

Great bunch of railfans! At what year are we looking?

Marty Bernard

Feb 1971. Took me twice to spot the date.

Posted from Android

Super photos!

Steve Mitchell
http://www.yardgoatimages.com

A true US-built railroad with the station elevation in feet, rather than meters.

masterphots Wrote:
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> A true US-built railroad with the station
> elevation in feet, rather than meters.


British, maybe.

Ptolemy Wrote:
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> masterphots Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > A true US-built railroad with the station
> > elevation in feet, rather than meters.
>
>
> British, maybe.

Except the Brits seem to have caved in to the Continental (read French) system of measurement. Only in the U.S. does the mile, foot and yard still reign supreme. But I'm still trying to figure out where the gallon got screwed up. Last place I saw Imperial gallons was in Canada.

JBWX

jbwest Wrote:
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>
> Except the Brits seem to have caved in to the
> Continental (read French) system of measurement.
> Only in the U.S. does the mile, foot and yard
> still reign supreme.
> JBWX


Not really. I just spend a month driving throughout Britain, and all measurements were in miles, feet, and yards. The same for British rail lines. There is some attempt to use continental measurements, but it is pretty feeble. Just like here in the US though, many use metric for professional needs but British for personal.

Great photos. Great looking engines, caboose and cars. Very interesting. Any more?

One engine looks like a 2-8-2 and the other a 2-8-0.

Well....since you asked....look here: http://www.lifewastedchasingtrains.com/main.php?g2_itemId=2460

The 123 is a 2-8-0....sharp eyes.

JBWX



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/11/14 18:14 by jbwest.

John: That is the most interesting set of pictures I have seen. Thoroughly entertaining. "A life wasted chasing trains"--I doubt it.

Ptolemy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> jbwest Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> >
> > Except the Brits seem to have caved in to the
> > Continental (read French) system of measurement.
>
> > Only in the U.S. does the mile, foot and yard
> > still reign supreme.
> > JBWX
>
>
> Not really. I just spend a month driving
> throughout Britain, and all measurements were in
> miles, feet, and yards. The same for British
> rail lines. There is some attempt to use
> continental measurements, but it is pretty feeble.
> Just like here in the US though, many use metric
> for professional needs but British for personal.

We use pints in pubs, measure distance in miles, speed in mph but in shops you buy in kgs and litres.

We seem to have got used to a hybrid solution. I never thought I'd be buying potatoes in kgs or diesel in litres but it's surprising what you get accustomed too.

Great pixs John. Sorry that the railroad has gone to hell. Rode it in 1998 and 2001. Also did El Salvador and Honduras (only in 1998 by 2001 mostly destroyed by a hurricane). Now all that is left is abandoned grade and stranded locos and cars. Wonder how much as survived in Guatemala City?

Dale Brown



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/28/14 13:50 by DWBrown.