International Railroad Discussion > U23C in action in 1997 (Brazil)

Hi, yesterday I was talking to a friend about the old Aguas Claras branch of former RFFSA railroad that served the namesake ore mine in Belo Horizonte MG from 1973 to 2002. When I moved from Rio de Janeiro  to BH in 1995, I used to visit the branch to watch the ore trains while wife spend the time at a mall nearby. I chose this picture among many others because it represents better the action I used to watch in that branch: three U23C smoking as the engineer increases the notches to start moving the heavy broad gauge 114 ore cars loaded with iron ore. Most of that iron went to US and Japan. Nowadays the branch operates partially.  The upper section close to the Aguas Claras is abandonned and will be sold in a auction soon. The branch still in use partially to serve Olhos D'água mine - TOD. It is interesting to note that the U23C were bought by RFFSA exclusively to this ore project.

1) U23CA 3617, 3612 and 3608 starting going down hill with a heavy 114 GDT class ore cars, in March 1st, 1997.

Pedro Rezende
Vespasiano MG,




Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 11/23/21 09:34 by pedrop.

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In the jungle??

Three pictures taken in the 1980's by friend Ramiro, who passed a way this year. 
2) Two trains meeting at Lagoa Seca siding. This location is full of buildings near the tracks nowadays;
3) U23C going down hill from Águas Claras to Lagoa Seca. Picture 1 was taken from the road above the tracks where we see the end of the train in this picture;
4) This picture was taken in the same location of picture 3, but in the direction of Lagoa Seca. 

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



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/23/21 09:30 by pedrop.

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Not exactly a jungle. The area around the mine had a small forest that is preserved to the current time.

tomstp Wrote:
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> In the jungle??

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

Like those smoking U-boats, nice series!

Larry

5 - 7) Lagoa Seca siding nowadays. 

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

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8 - 10) Lagoa Seca siding in 1996.

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

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That was some heavy railroading.

Pedro,
     Is the siding in photo #2 as steep as it looks or would that just be the camera angle.

Bob Krieger
Cheyenne, WY

Bob, yes the grade is very steep in that branch. I have some old videos recorded in vhs and vdc. I will try to convert them to mp4 to add here in TO. I need to find a program to do it.

Bob3985 Wrote:
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> Pedro,
>      Is the siding in photo #2 as steep as it
> looks or would that just be the camera angle.

Posted from Android

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

More pics at Aguas Claras branch.
11 - 13) U23C 3215, 3300, 3343 and  3278 passing by the end of their train at Aguas Claras loading loop.
05 agosto 1996
 


 

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



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/24/21 17:11 by pedrop.

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I commented too soon. Enjoyed the added pictures!

Larry