International Railroad Discussion > SQM NF210

SQM's 3 NF210 were "owned" by the mining department and used on the Pedro de Valdivia nitrate pampa. Mining ceased at Pedro de Valdivia in November 2015

The 3 NF210 ex CN 914/922/933 were recently sold to FCAB and regauged to metre. FCAB have renumbered to 1445/6/7

All 3 were fully rebuilt by Casagrandi Motori at Chena (Santiago suburb) in 2007

https://www.flickr.com/photos/yayocarvajal/5376694813/in/photolist-8p5XKg-a9J6ti-avTCHf-egkXxh-kxfoBH-9kYkgE-m1UiKi-aBWnkN-kvtAMt-9dm5Ay-7a1qJ3-aDQRtF-9kVgnH-bg3NoM-9kmfEX-AMyh4p-hWtWuw-hWtFoY-b76HdR-i5cLyH-8p5XKp-8p5XKt-9oiL49-arH3DC-8pacJm-8pacJs-8p5BLe-8pacJh-8p5XK8-9wJ5ch-9wxbTp-8p5XKx-9m6WwX-8pacJd-8p5XKc-atdUyq-7XxoMb-7XufMF-cGLxnb-ifED3L-bobwZR-9c7Y3H-GEV6Pc-7XukRV-9ditPK-9dkSdU-7XtYC8-7XxhYj-9hnYdn-mdn5MW

Photos of one of the units, still in SQM green livery at Prat in November, are circulating on social media.

No decision yet if SQM's flood damaged line from Maria Elena to Tocopilla will be resurrected. Virtually all of the cantenary has been stolen, so a total rebuild will be required. Nitrate extraction transfered to Nueva Victoria around 100km north of Maria Elena. recent video clips indicate that SQM are experimenting with Australian style roadtrains. All SQM nitrate and chemicals now transported by road

Really sad to hear that the line is basically gone. That is one railroad I very much wanted to visit!

The main line electrics, 5 new Chilian built units, plus the remaining GE Boxcabs, and a 70 ton GE Diesel are stored at SQM's port trminal in Tocopilla. The 4 mainline diesels, together with the mining departments diesels are at Maria Elena, with the mining department's electrics still at Pedro de Valdivia