International Railroad Discussion > Train C430 in Quatis (Brazil)

   Returning from the Model Railroad Show in Campinas, I took the BR-040 road to Rio de Janeiro state and could watch nice trains along the way. I decided to visit Quatis, about six kilometers from the BR-040 and I was lucky to find limestone train C430 passing by the station a few minutes after I arrive there. Here it is.

1 - 3) Quatis station. The name of the town refers to the animal Coatis that inhabit the forests nearby.
 

Pedro Rezende
Vespasiano MG,

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4) The track area;

5) The grade after the station.

6) Quatis station (code EQT) is located at Km 131 + 432 meters of the old Rede Mineira de Viação (RMV) mainline, now part of VLI famous "Limestone Route". The station was opened in 1897 and its altitude is 397 meters above the sea level. It is located in the base of Mantiqueira hill near Barra Mansa (code EBM), where the limestone is delivered to CSN steel mill. The route is a very sinuous line of meter gauge tracks (1,000mm / 3ft 3 3/8in) that has not changed much since the steam era. The use of the big BB36-7 locomotives stated by FCA / VLI in 2014. Before that time, the route was served by GM G8, G12, GE U20C and Alco MX620. The accidents with BB36-7 proves that they are too big for the route, but VLI do not care on it. They are happy with the results of them leading the limestone trains. Six units were lost in less than two year, with a engineer dead in one of the accidents.

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



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/10/24 18:29 by pedrop.

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7 - 8) BB36-7 719 (former Conrail 5051) and 724 (former Conrail 5058) leading the train C430 as it passed by the station and starts to climb a heavy grade just after the crossing level. The route is a infinity of ups and downs;

9) Limestone to CSN steel mill.
 

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



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/10/24 17:16 by pedrop.

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10) Containers loaded with limestone;

11 - 12) BB36-7 8526 (former NS 8526) is the first DPU.

 

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

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13) Clinker cars;

14 - 15) BB36-7 730 (former Conrail 5013) is the 2nd DPU.
 

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

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16) The video. 
That's all for today. 

Pedro

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

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Nice look at the good looking Quatis station Pedro. Nice catch of an interesting powered train. Lots of chugging going on.

Larry

THose old GEs sound good.   Also like the original VW Beetles in the background.

A lot of different paint schemes on those locomotives!

Yes, VLI received the BB36-7s from FCA, that received them from Vale mining and didn't painted all them. Just a few received VLI silver painting scheme. So, we have CVRD/EFVM brown  (Vale predecessor), FCA blue, FCA orange, Vale green and VLI silver painting schemes. 


NMlurker Wrote:
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> A lot of different paint schemes on those
> locomotives!

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



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/11/24 16:05 by pedrop.

Great video, but I can't believe those trains stay on the rails--look how narrow the guage is!!!  Those are not lightweight carloads.  Pretty amazing.

Those meter gauge railways in Brazil are so very interesting. Also surprised how stabil those high riding BB36-7's are. Is it normal to have the trains running through the reverse side of the turnout there?

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR

Excellent video! That location is very interesting and the locomotives sound great!

Dan

Posted from iPhone

Yes, we have trains running in both directions in that route. All trains are powered by BB36-7s.

funnelfan Wrote:
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> Those meter gauge railways in Brazil are so very
> interesting. Also surprised how stabil those high
> riding BB36-7's are. Is it normal to have the
> trains running through the reverse side of the
> turnout there?

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

The photos are fine, but that jaw-dropping video really shows what is going on.  As the second DPU approaches, the 'smoke' from the loco is evident before the unit ever shows up.

Thanks for posting this most interesting video :-)

 

pedrop Wrote:
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> 16) The video. 
> That's all for today. 
>
> Pedro

Very nice

Really cool stuff!  Love the old GE glugging.   Feel free to post more!