International Railroad Discussion > Both Sides of Cumbre Pass - FCAB Chile 4/19/19

The morning of April 19 saw us doing a bit of yoyo-ing between Sergio Galvan and Gaviota on either side of the Cumbre Pass in the Atacama Desert in Chile. As we were driving by Sergio Galvan we saw a sulfuric acid train climbing the hill. Thinking we couldn't beat in on dirt roads to the Cumbre Loops, we took off for the other side of the pass, beating it to Gaviota. The train had to FCAB-kitbashed GT22CU-3s sandwiching a Newfie (NF210). While we did get to Gaviota way ahead of it, the train had to wait on the siding there as a train of zinc oncentrate with Clyde GL26C-2s leading and a Newfie/GR12 sandwich pushing appeared heading the other way. I believe this is the train from Bolivia (maybe the T1250?). We shot the runby, and then headed back to Sergio Galvan to shoot the zinc train again (quite a lot of time and driving on two trains). Then we headed up to the Cumbre Loops to scope them out, when we heard the distinctive rumble of a train coming towards us. Turned out you hear the trains coming at you for a loooooong time before they arrive. Two new GT42ACs eventually appeared with cathodes and tank cars  While there were only three trains, there were a heck of a lot of possible shots. Sharing some of my favorites.

Shots one and two are of the acid train dropping down off the hill in Gaviota. It would take the siding moments later and then wait.

 

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Images three through five are of the zinc concentrate train climbing up from Prat.

 

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Images six and seven are of the pushers on the zinc concentrate train.

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Images eight through ten are of the acid train continuing its run down the hill, with a roster of the GT22CU-3 at the end.

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Image eleven is again the acid train coming down the hill towards Prat.

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Images twelve through fourteen are now on the Cumbre Loops as the cathode and tank train takes a double spin.

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Amazing photos,it is so desolate it is stunningly beautiful.
Regards,dK

Very nice, I love Cumbre as a place to watch trains. And despite appearances it's only 45 minutes to the fleshpots of downtown Antofagasta

Fleshpots in ANF???

Very nice photos.

Posted from iPhone

Is there anything living out there? I don't see any vegetation at all - just bare ground. 
Are there tiny plants, ants or anything else alive in this place?

I doubt there's even bactaria.

utwazoo Wrote:
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> Fleshpots in ANF???

Irony

I think I have read that the region is the driest on Earth.  Never seen any location look so completely barren of life.

-John

Man, what an Outstanding series!