Hello all,
I am researching a 60 cm line in Argentina that used Garratt locomotives. I seem to recall an article in L&RP, but I can't seem to locate a master index for that publication. Was there indeed a railway in Pantagonia such as this or am I off base? Perhaps I am confusing this with the Alfred County?
Thanks,
JCA

wsflco@yahoo.com

> Hello all,
> I am researching a 60 cm line in Argentina
> that used Garratt locomotives. I seem to
> recall an article in L&RP, but I can't
> seem to locate a master index for that
> publication. Was there indeed a railway in
> Pantagonia such as this or am I off base?
> Perhaps I am confusing this with the Alfred
> County?
> Thanks,
> JCA

Reviewing the data on Mr. Gavin Hamilton's Garrett web site, the only Garretts that got shipped to Argintina were 10 standard gauge engines for the FCNEA.

Ed

The Garratt Locomotive
ff1044@aol.com

Is this the one?

http://www.trendelfindelmundo.com.ar/IN ... otoras.htm

Strasburg Rail Road

kelly@strasburgrailroad.com

You must be thinking of the FCAF (see link in other response), but I don't think L&RP ever covered them. They have one Garratt, one 2-6-2T, and several small diesels. Both steamers were heavily rebuilt & modernized by the mechanical manager of the railway, Shaun McMahon, with guidance from L. D. Porta and assistance from Phil Girdlestone.

Most of the line's traffic comes from tourists who arrive on cruise ships and who use the line to visit the large national park there. The line is due to be extended several miles into the city of Ushuaia in the near future, and they hope to build another steamer to handle the increased traffic.

I have a lot of info on the FCAF on my website. Please check it out at the link below. More info on the railway is covered in other sections of my site. Do a search for "FCAF" on the index page to find it.

Regards,
Hugh

> Hello all,
> I am researching a 60 cm line in Argentina
> that used Garratt locomotives. I seem to
> recall an article in L&RP, but I can't
> seem to locate a master index for that
> publication. Was there indeed a railway in
> Pantagonia such as this or am I off base?
> Perhaps I am confusing this with the Alfred
> County?
> Thanks,
> JCA


The Ultimate Steam Page
whodom2001@yahoo.com

> Hello all,
> I am researching a 60 cm line in Argentina
> that used Garratt locomotives.

While on a business trip about 7 or more years ago, I viited Rio Gallegos which was the port terminal for a fairly long 60 cm line that was originally built to haul coal. I think they ran 2-10-2 locos and the latest variety came from Japan but looked very like US designs. I also remember an article on the line, perhaps in TRAINS.

They ran some fantrips or excursions but the future of the operation was in doubt, and with the ensueing uncertainty in Argentina economy and politics, I do not know if they are still around.

Rio Gallegos had enormous tidal swings, maybe 40 to 50 feet sometimes and it was odd to see a coal boat being loaded at low tide, while lying on the mud bottom, listing a bit to the side. Departure was always timed to high tide when it would float free.

The facilities were rundown by US standards but still quite a find in the mid to late 90's. Maintenance and rebuilding of the remaining engines was continuing but pretty much on a manual basis as you might expect to see in a hand to mouth operation - wood blocks, hand jacks, and a lot of ARMSTRONG tools and wrenches.

I saw no Garrats and do not remember reading anything of them.

Bob Kutella


68trolley@comcast.net

Bob,

That line is the Red Ferro Industrial Rio Turbio (RFIRT). The 2-10-2's were built by Mitsubishi. Argentinian engineer L. D. Porta was the manager of the line for several years, and this is where he developed the Gas Producer Combustion System that greatly improves the efficiency of coal-burning steam locomotives, as well as numerous other operational improvements. The line remained steam-powered into the 90's, when second-hand diesel-hydraulic locomotives were imported.

Plans are presently in the works to try to extend the line westward into Chile and institute a coast-to-coast tourist line, powered by the 2-10-2's, many of which are still restorable.

Read about the line at my page below.

Regards,
Hugh Odom

> While on a business trip about 7 or more
> years ago, I viited Rio Gallegos which was
> the port terminal for a fairly long 60 cm
> line that was originally built to haul coal.
> I think they ran 2-10-2 locos and the latest
> variety came from Japan but looked very like
> US designs. I also remember an article on
> the line, perhaps in TRAINS.

> They ran some fantrips or excursions but the
> future of the operation was in doubt, and
> with the ensueing uncertainty in Argentina
> economy and politics, I do not know if they
> are still around.

> Rio Gallegos had enormous tidal swings,
> maybe 40 to 50 feet sometimes and it was odd
> to see a coal boat being loaded at low tide,
> while lying on the mud bottom, listing a bit
> to the side. Departure was always timed to
> high tide when it would float free.

> The facilities were rundown by US standards
> but still quite a find in the mid to late
> 90's. Maintenance and rebuilding of the
> remaining engines was continuing but pretty
> much on a manual basis as you might expect
> to see in a hand to mouth operation - wood
> blocks, hand jacks, and a lot of ARMSTRONG
> tools and wrenches.

> I saw no Garrats and do not remember reading
> anything of them.

> Bob Kutella


Steam Locomotives of the RFIRT
whodom2001@yahoo.com

The amazing thing is that this is a 500mm / 50cm gauge railroad, roughly 19 1/2" gauge. These are really rare and pretty interesting - most are descendants of Decauville industrial track or some real small WW1 applications. The only thing similar in the states that I know of is the 20" Coronado lines.

> The amazing thing is that this is a 500mm /
> 50cm gauge railroad, roughly 19 1/2"
> gauge. These are really rare and pretty
> interesting - most are descendants of
> Decauville industrial track or some real
> small WW1 applications. The only thing
> similar in the states that I know of is the
> 20" Coronado lines.

This line is no different; it was based on an industrial railroad that served the prison at Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego Island, Argentina. An Orenstein & Koppel 0-6-0T steam locomotive from the original railroad (4011/1910) is on display at the prison complex at Ushuaia.

-James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a

Surviving World Steam Project
james@survivingworldsteam.com

> Reviewing the data on Mr. Gavin Hamilton's
> Garrett web site, the only Garretts that got
> shipped to Argintina were 10 standard gauge
> engines for the FCNEA.

> Ed

Ed,

There where Argentinian Garratts on Broad, Standard and metre gauge. The locomotive which is being referred to started out as a miniaturised replica of K1 and as such has been ignored by me until such a time as 1: I get some more webspace (being very close to my limit at present) and 2: I can find RELIABLE information about all miniature (3.5" to 18" gauge) Garratts.

Actually this locomotive has been radically rebuilt so it's link to K1 is now somewhat tenuous at the very least.

Gavin


Garratt Locomotives
gavin@hamilton.powernet.co.uk