Virtual Railfan Tour of Paraguay - a very frightening visit to the roundhouse

On my first day in Asuncion I had a meeting with the railway general manager in the morning. (We visited Sapucay that afternoon).  I got up early and went for a stroll to take a look at the roundhouse.  As I approached the gate a small soldier came to attention.  He was so short that he was shorter than his rifle.  I pointed at the locomotives and in sign language indicated I wanted to see them.  He shouted in quick fire Spanish and put his rifle right up my nose.  

I was scared stiff.  I quickly backed off and, shaking bodily, found a nearby cafe, ordered a cognac and drank it down in one shot.

A little while later I explained my experience to the general manager. He smiled and told me to be at his office at 0800 the next morning.

I dutifully arrived at the appointed time when a very small office boy was told to take me to the roundhouse - he probably wasn't more than ten years old. As we approached the gate the same small boy was on duty.  After a quick conversation the soldier burst out into smiles and I was allowed to enter.  The small office boy disappeared leaving me alone inside the yard.

I got out my camera and made it obvious that I was going to take a picture.  One of the workers approached me and I said "Permisso" which I hoped meant that I had permission. "Si senor" he replied with a smile. From that point on everyone was smiling and I took my pictures.  These are the pictures I took at the Asuncion roundhouse.


Everybody wanted to get into my picture




It turned out that most of the operable locomotives were at the Asuncion station which I visited later that day.


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