Virtual Railfan Tour Bolivia - Introduction

 

I acquired this at the Witches' Market in La Paz.  It is a symbol of good luck but it could equally be known as "expect the unexpected."
Why start at Bolivia which is in the center of the continent?  Simply because I have spent more time in Bolivia both on fan trips and also as a volunteer working on railway safety for the government. My first visit was, with Mary. We started in Paraguay, then Brazil, via Iguassu Falls. From Sao Paulo we went across the Amazon basin and entered Bolivia at Corumba, eventually finishing up in Antofagasta, Chile.

This is a map of the eastern railway network. The, so called, main line runs from the Brazilian border at Quijarro (Corumba on the Brazilian side). This is in lowland jungle territory. That night we started with piranha soup then had deep fried alligator as the main course.

Our train at Quijarro waiting for a meet. The Bolivian railways are now all meter gauge

Our freight train meet comes in to Quijarro with cars for Brazil

A pause at Chochis

Lunch at these out of the way places was surprisingly good

In this area one has to be careful when walking.  Tarantulas are mostly nocturnal but it is possible to surprise one a little way away from its hole.

Just outside Chochis is this incredible rock formation. It remains in my memory to this day.
Along with Lake Titicaca and the salt flats this is one of the outstanding sights in Bolivia

San Jose de Chiquitos is a crew change point. It was late afternoon and it quickly became dark so that we arrived in Santa Cruz de la Sierra in darkness.  Tomorrow we would climb up into the altiplano, first by bus then by train to La Paz.











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