International Railroad Discussion > Socompa - Chile Argentina cross border

Ferronor dispatched its first official train over the rebuilt track to Argentina on Saturday. Departed from Augusta Victoria, which is a passing siding around 120km south east of Antofagasta, where the FCAB track ends, and the Ferronor branch to Socompa commences. This is former state track that was sold to the former Rail America managed JV in the mid 1990s. To complicate matters FCAB lease the next 50km eastward from Ferronor to access mines with which it has acid supply contracts (in the vicinity of 4k tonnes per day)

Those with Facebook can view the photos here https://www.facebook.com/carlos.f.medell/posts/10209019225819047?pnref=story

There appears to have been a transfer of rolling-stock in March
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1160767483956261&set=pb.100000690616824.-2207520000.1461625837.&type=3&theater
tab backward, 7 photos in total

Locomotives on the inaugural train were 320/322, both rebuilt U9C re-powered with 12 cylinder EMD C crankcase

6 GR12 are to be refurbished for the International service. These are locos ex Ferronor's Potrerillos management contract. The CODELCO Chanaral-Potrerillos system was washed out and abandoned following the March 2015 rain event. 3 GR12 hulks currently in Baquedano, with the 3 goers currently trapped at Potrerillos due out by road this week

A party of young guys from Santiago is planning on flying into Copiapo, hiring a 4x4, then following this Ferronor loco transfer to Baquedano (locos will be transferred to rail at a point around 10km north of Diego de Almagro), literally, driving up the track behind the train like a party of Argentinians did with the January transfer, and leapfrogging ahead to get shots. 23 acid tankcars trapped at Potrerillos will be moved at the same time
 
Don’t suppose that there is much chance that the rear wagon will flick up stones! (grab fron video clip)
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/25/16 16:41 by jmt.

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Photos have started to be appear on Argentinean news sites
http://misdiasenlavia1.blogspot.com.au/2016/04/desde-salta.html
 

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Great to see this line back in serice.  Thanks for the info.

Louis Cerny

Nice painting scheme. It's a place to visit in south America.

Pedro Rezende
Vespasiano MG,
https://youtube.com/c/minasgeraisrailways1