Does anyone know if there is an operating tourist train on Doña Teresa Christina? It is on my list of places I wished I had visited when I was younger.

Tom,

There is an irregular steam hauled tourist train on the EFDTC.

The steam locos are supplied by the local Tubarao museum.

Currently there are three operable steam locos. A 2-10-2 #205 built 1949 by Skoda now with Porter modifications. A Jung 2-8-2 #5 that is not native to the line (spent it's entire life shunting at a local power station) and an Alco 2-8-2 #153

There are probably another 30 locos either in the museum or stored locally.

In July 2013 FarRail is intending to operate freight trains (regular and charter with the Skoda and the Alco

TH

Trevor, if you don't mind, I'd like to add a little to your updated info.


I believe that there were a pair of Jungs. The coal washing plant was called Capavari and was almost within sight of the RFIRT carshops. While they really didn't get out on the mainline often if at all, the operation was there to support the big line.

2-8-2 153 pulled the very last train on the Lauro Muller Branch in March of 1974. They were using Mikes instead of the trio of simple articulateds account of lower tonnage and economy. I caught the train leaving Tubarao and was able to shoot it only twice on the way to the mine. I just could not safely keep up with it. They were going that fast. While I saw, photographed and even ran one of the 2-10-4s, I missed out on the mallets. Sr. Cabral pulled one out of the open air shed and had the boiler filled with water so I could ride for a day, but the torrential rains ruined that when the branch washed out.

Tom I think you would like this 1981 image by Herbert Graf

Tom,

You may also be interested in this image. It shows the last time a Baldwin Mallet was steamed in EFDTC ownership.... in late 1980.

The reason for the steaming may also be of interest. Graeme Stanley was an Australian diplomat based at their embassy in Buenos Aries. He is the person who facilitated the purchase of the 2-10-2 Santa Fe locos from the Argentine Belgano Railway.

He was personally thanked for his efforts by the EFDTC Chief Engineer and asked "Is there anything we can do for you?"

"I would like to see one of those Mallet's in operation before I return to Australia".

He then received a letter inviting him to Tubarao and on that day 204 was steamed especially for him.

TH

Trevor, many thanks for posting the interesting views. IIRC, the chief engineer's name was Gilberto Cabral, a really enthusiastic and friendly guy. There was another officail who also was railfan friendly and his last name was Urnau.

Tom,

Here is the story as told to me by Mr Stanley last year and yes the CME was Eng Cabral.

"Eng. Cabral wrote to the railway people in BA but after two months had heard nothing. I received a letter from my friend Nildi Estevao who was EFDTC's Supervisor of Mechanical Maintenance asking whether I could move things along. I was working at the Australian Embassy in BA. Through the Railway's Museum curator, Dr Ysetto, I managed to get an appointment with the Chief Mechanical Engineer and went along to meet him with an Embassy interpreter. I didn't inform the Ambassador as I thought he would say not to get involved as it was not anything of concern to the Australian Government.

The CME was a bit embarrassed - he knew of the letter from EFDTC. He left the office for 10 minutes and came back with outline plans of the locos and basic specifications which he said I could send to Brazil with his contact details. Two weeks later I had a letter from Brazil saying that agreement had been reached to purchase 11 locos for US$880,000. I was surprised how easy it all was.

The first time I went to meet Dr Ysetto he was late for the appointment as he had to go to the central police station to bail out the railway's official photographer who had been arrested for taking photos at Retiro Station. In the circumstances I didn't think I had much hope of even getting information about the Brazilian loco purchase enquiry.

As for the Mallet / Texan doubleheader, Eng Cabral told Nildi to ask me what I would like to happen for my next visit to Tubarao - I had spent a total of 3 months there during my three year posting to Argentina and was well known at the workshops and along the line. When I got there I looked longingly at the Mallet sitting forlornly in the workshops yard and said I would love to see it running again, especially with a 2-10-4. Within a week it had actually happened but the Mallet was not in good enough condition to run very far so they took it out to the triangular junction with me on board the Mallet.

Unfortunately the weather was foul with a strong wind and heavy cloud so the photos weren't very good. I took mainly 8 mm movie film but I think I also got a few stills while the train was stopped. The crew were less than impressed as they didn't appreciate having to make it happen. Nildi was also assigned to spend a week with me as a facilitator. It was good fun for both of us.

Nildi eventually got the job of going to Argentina to bring the 11 locos to Brazil via Bolivia".

Did the 11 used steam engines move on their own wheels for the 3 country trip?

Very good question.

I have a section on my site about Porta's work at the railway. Apparently the main driver for bringing him in was to reduce smoke pollution by the coal burning locomotives, and his modifications were very successful in this regard, in addition to increasing efficiency and power.

http://www.trainweb.org/tusp/sergio/ter ... stina.html

Thanks for the information, stories, and photos. This and the RFIRT in Argentina are two I really wished I could have visited in steam.

Yes that is correct

In one train consisting of the eleven locos, diesel hauled from Argentina. They were moved through Bolivia and entered Brasil via Corumbá (Mato Grosso do Sul), São Paulo, Paraná and Lages (Santa Catarina) until Porto Alegre (Rio Grande do Sul).

From Porto Alegre they were trucked to the isolated EFDTC at Tubarao.

There are images and I've asked for copies. If they materialize, I'll post them here.

Well known photographer John West on his web site "A life wasted chasing trains" has images of the locos while they were still working in Argentina, see here:

http://www.lifewastedchasingtrains.com/ ... temId=1138

Do any of you have an email contact for someone at the EFDTC who would know all about their Engineering Archive?

Their engineering archive may or may not be located at the shops, as many of the Central & South American Countries store there archives as part of a larger Gov archive.

Is anyone going down there this year, or know of any rail adventures that are setup to go there?

Thanks

Far Rail Tours has a 12 day tour planned for July 2015. Very reputable & been to many interesting places for steam.

Try contacting Rafael Bordini Monteiro. He lives in Criciuma, Santa Catarina, Brazil, and is involved with the EFDTC preservation effort. Email: rafaelbordini85@hotmail.com

Referring to John West's photos of the Argentina line, this line is really worth some time studying the satellite photos. This line is truly amazing, and probably ignored by most of us North Americans. The sheer distance it covers through isolated, desolate country, devoid of any development, is staggering. It was clearly only relevant pre-airline and pre-heavy haul truck.

You have to view the satellite maps and wonder, could it have every been possible? And in steam?