International Railroad Discussion > Vilcuya, Chile 1956-2016

Vilcuya was a station on the former meter gauge Transandine line from Los Andes, Chile to Mendoza, Argentina.  The line featured rack sections and Kitson-Meyer steam engines before being electrified.  It closed in 1981 but a 20-mile segment survived to serve Codelco's Andina copper mine at Saldillo. Today the line is busy with trains hauling copper concentrate from the mine to Los Andes,  where the containers are lifted to wide gauge flat cars for transit to the smelter on the coast at Las Ventanas.  Vilcuya is now simply a siding where trains often meet.  Here are three views over a 60-year period.  The last two photos are my work.

1.   GM railbus 1023 makes a passenger stop at Vilcuya   March 1956.  Photographer unknown.

2.   Restored 1024 stops awaiting a Fepasa copper concentrate train on 5/5/13.   These excursions operate on Sundays now and then throughout the year from Los Andes to Rio Blanco, a few miles from the mine loadout.

3.   Fepasa 1820W meets 1821E at Vilcuya.  3/3/16

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Thanks for posting! Always loved the electrified period of operation for this line, and glad some of it survives.

masterphots Wrote:
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> Vilcuya was a station on the former meter gauge
> Transandine line from Los Andes, Chile to Mendoza,
> Argentina.  The line featured rack sections and
> Kitson-Meyer steam engines before being
> electrified.  It closed in 1981 but a 20-mile
> segment survived to serve Codelco's Andina copper
> mine at Saldillo. Today the line is busy with
> trains hauling copper concentrate from the mine to
> Los Andes,  where the containers are lifted to
> wide gauge flat cars for transit to the smelter on
> the coast at Las Ventanas.  Vilcuya is now simply
> a siding where trains often meet.  Here are three
> views over a 60-year period.  The last two photos
> are my work.
>
> 1.   GM railbus 1023 makes a passenger stop at
> Vilcuya   March 1956.  Photographer unknown.
>
> 2.   Restored 1024 stops awaiting a Fepasa
> copper concentrate train on 5/5/13.   These
> excursions operate on Sundays now and then
> throughout the year from Los Andes to Rio Blanco,
> a few miles from the mine loadout.
>
> 3.   Fepasa 1820W meets 1821E at Vilcuya. 
> 3/3/16

'Looks like that would be a nice place to escape to from "up north."

You must be having a blast exploring all of those out-of the-way places, Alan.

Greg Stadter
Phoenix, AZ