International Railroad Discussion > GE Alco-GE shovel noses in Chile

Chilean State Rys purchased 17 single-end GE-Alco shovel nose diesels in two batches in 1954 and 1956.  These were wide-gauge (5'6") for the southern network and were used on most any trains.  These were the first road diesels for the wide gauge and replaced steam engines.  By the time I first visited Chile in October 1991,  quite a few were still in service and continued until privately-owned  Fepasa became the consessionaire for freight operations.   They acquired six of the units of which five were in service from 1996-2007,  at which time they were retired. The sixth unit was a parts supply  One became a slug and the part supply remains sit at Talcahuano. When Fepasa acquired theirs,  for a few months they retained their paint scheme and EFE 5-digit numbers.  When soon repainted into Fepasa colors,  they became 1806, 08, 10, 13 and 15.

EFE continued to use a couple in passenger service until EMUs replaced all locomotive-hauled passenger trains,  around 2005.  Two continue in EFE work train service today,  nos. 16005 and 16011.  They also show up on various excursion trains run by EFE,  especially the vintage train from Santiago to San Antonio.  Unfortunately for photographers,  they are usually the trailing unit outbound and return to Santiago after sunset.

But I did see a number in pre-Fepasa days.  FFCCdelE (Ferrocarriles de Estado) was the original name, but in later years the units could be lettered EFE (Empresa Ferrocarril Estado) or  FCdelSur (Ferrocarril del Sur).  They also sported various liveries.  Here are images of some of them.  All my work except two photos as noted.

1.  16001 in original livery at Santiago  4/14/80   Keith Ardinger photo.

2.  16004 leaving Santiago for Concepcion  1/28/02

3.  16005 at Temuco.  10/8/91    This is one of two units, along with 16011,  that are still used by EFE for work trains.



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 04/07/21 15:47 by masterphots.

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4.   16006 at Santiago  11/20/71.  Gordon Glattenberg photo.   Hard to believe this one is in service,  given its appearance.

5.   16006  in better trim at Frutillar  1/9/94

6.    16008 at Quepe  1/8/94

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7-8.  Two views of 16010 at San Rosendo 1/14/94.   San Rosendo is the junction between the mainlines to Concepcion on the coast and to the south almost as far as Puerto Montt.   It was the site of a large roundhouse,  coaling tower and steam backshop.  Most everything is still there,  damaged by the 2010 8.8 earthquake but now stabilized and open as  a do it yourself museum.   There are good explanatory signs as to what one is looking at.

9.  16011 at Pua  1/7/94 

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10.  For any modelers,  a view of the rear end of 16011.  Temuco,  1/5/96

11.  Survivor 16011 hauls an EFE work train (the government retained ownership of the tracks) on a foggy morning at Llay Llay  1/29/19

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Interesting locos. The trucks are really diferent. Thanks for sharing the pictures. 

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

Very interesting series!!

Larry

Nice catch with the wigwag in the last picture.

There are quite a few of these "Look and Listen" devices still around.   The listen function doesn't always work though.

THey look longer than the Whitr Pass units. Boiler space back there?