Virtual Railfan Tour Bolivia - Este Section Santa Cruz to Yacuiba - Things that Go BUMP

 

Technically our small track car had the right of way but we decided not to argue with this truck
There are just two lines running out of Santa Cruz de la Sierra. A fairly busy main line running east to Robore and Corumba on the border with Brazil and a minor branch line running south through Abapo to Yacuiba on the border with Argentina.  We will cover the branch line first. I went over the entire line on November 23 and 24 1998 and made a round trip to Abapo on 21 February 2002.
From the picture above it can be seen that there are some major bridges on the line which are shared with the highway. In my notes I described the line as being in good condition bearing in mind there were three passenger trains a week in each direction while freight trains ran as required, normally one a day. 
While the line to Brazil penetrates dense jungle the Yacuiba line runs through heavy scrub vegetation.
Waiting for the passenger train


Passenger train at a local station

Sunchani

Sunchani

Restaurant at Abapo

Lunch was pretty good

A freight train is arriving, hoping that the animals will get out of the way.  Animals on the line were a big problem on this largely unfenced line.


The track was barely adequate for the level of traffic

Trespassing was another problem, People were using the right of way indiscriminately But they were moving mainly parallel to the tracks rather than the more normal crossing


Yard switch levers were being used on the main line as opposed to levers with targets showing the way switches were set.

Sightlines at crossings were very poor in places


We stopped to take a look at this bridge
We then got back in the track car and set out for Santa Cruz. We hadn't gone more than 50 metres when there was a very loud BOOM and we shuddered to a halt. Luckily the car had not been derailed but when we took a look at the rails we found that someone had inserted a spike in the gap at a rail joint.  The spike was sticking up only about an inch or so but that was enough to give us a good scare.

Whenever I| think of bridges in Bolivia I remember the scare I got on my trip to Abapo.














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