Virtual Railfan Tour Bolivia - Este Section Santa Cruz to San Jose

January 08, 2021

Passengers boarding a railcar at Santa Cruz de la Sierra

The "main line" eastwards from Santa Cruz runs to the border with Brazil. It is quite busy for a narrow gauge trunk line with numerous passenger and freight trains. the first part is through scrub land similar to the south line to Yacuiba. Today we will go as far as San Jose, a crew change point.

From La Paz we flew to Santa Cruz as this is the only reasonable way. The airport had just received some new-fangled X-ray machines and I was wearing safety boots with steel toecaps and soles. Security told me to walk through anyway and, of course I set off the alarm. I explained again that the problem was my boots, took them off and walked through in my stocking feet. They then put my boots through the machine and were amazed at the steel in my boots. The guy on the machine then called his mates "Hey, come and take a look at this." and put my boots through again - and again - and again. I stood around in my stocking feet for about 15 minutes while the whole airport enjoyed the continuous scanning of my boots. I still have those boots today and have often thought that they should glow in the dark. I repatriated my boots and the rest of the airline part was uneventful.

We had to do some maneuvers to get out of the Santa Cruz yard.

The line was well dispatched and we had to go inside at several locations to clear trains.

Waiting for a freight train

By the time of my visit in 2002 the line had been taken over by a subsidiary of the Genessee and Wyoming Railroad.

A track gang was busy replacing ties

We could see a headlight in the distance as we approached another meet

A good subject for modellers

I came across this supply of new ties ready for installation. These are quebracho hardwood, one of the strongest in the world. I came across it in Paraguay but it also grows in the Bolivian jungle. They are a jungle tree and are reputed to last 100 years in a tropical climate.

Our meet was with a large passenger train

Many were waiting to board. Note the well ballasted track.

The train looked to be full

We are approaching San Jose - a divisional or crew change point

Our track car is in the hole - out of the way of the next freight

I decided to inspect these passenger cars in the siding

There were kids playing in them. Once again the connections between cars were very dangerous

The couplers were completely exposed.

As the freight train arrived I watched a ceremony I have seen in many other countries which is the same the world over. The outgoing crew are waiting on the platform.