Virtual Railfan Tour of Bolivia - Oruro to Uyuni

The Dreaded South American Electric Shower

My advice is don't! The water is heated by electricity and the water from the showerhead can give a kick if it is not properly maintained.  I received a good jolt from one in Guatemala when I touched the water control handle while under the shower. It is best to take a cold shower or use the wash hand basin.

A freight train is waiting at the south gate of the Oruro yard for permission to enter.

Having had an invigorating cold shower. I joined the small group in the track car to make our way south to Uyuni after the freight had cleared.  There was myself, two government inspectors and a couple from the railway. The driver was an Aymara railway employee. While waiting for the freight I asked to see our clearance.

The driver announced "It is number fourteen."

I asked "Let me see it please." 

He replied "It is number fourteen."

I asked again at which there was a quick fire conversation in Spanish and Aymara, after which the driver left the car and went back into the office.

After a wait of some ten minutes, during which I took a look at the incoming freight, he returned with a piece of paper which, indeed, was number fourteen, but from the time, had only just been issued. Seems they were in the habit of allowing track cars out on the main line on verbal authority only.

I took this while we were waiting for our written authority to leave

This "main line" runs south over the bare altiplano.  We stopped here for a physical needs break. There are no convenient bushes on the altiplano so the convention was for everybody to stand in a circle facing outwards. This way there was some semblance of privacy.

This is Rio Mulatto, a junction point where the busy line to Potosi branches off eastwards on the climb to Condor summit.

Downtown Uyuni

Unlike Oruro, the railway at Uyuni is right next to what town there is without any fences

We were to spend the night in Uyuni so there was time to look around

The southbound Wara Wara came in. Wara Wata is the name of a lake in the Cochabamba department

This crest was on the locomotive of the Wara Wara

The Uyuni train board looks impressive but there is only one train to Villazon on the border with Argentina - on alternating days with a train twice a week to Calama in Chile.

I took a look at this passenger train and was horrified to see the interconnections between coaches

These were completely open and the floors, where they existed, were not level.  The danger of falling off or being caught in the coupling did not bear thinking about.

I saw the Wara Wara leave and went to the hotel looking forward to a cold shower tomorrow morning for our railcar ride over the then highest railway summit in the world.