Virtual Railfan Tour Paraguay - To the end of the line at Encarnacion

Our second day turned out misty 

But the mist soon cleared and we were treated to a leisurely journey through interesting countryside

Much of the trip was through a soggy landscape

Along the way we took on a newly painted locomotive that had just come out of Sapucay works

The soggy journey continued

At one point we disembarked to take a shot of the train on a bridge.  There were some photogenic boats by the start of the runpast

The train was placed correctly on the bridge but it stayed there for over half an hour - turns out the crew were making repairs

When our train finally moved forward there was another good photo opportunity.

The views from the tender were excellent with wood smoke wafting back

There were frequent stops  - to allow the engine to recover

We finally reached Encarnacion where a train for Asuncion was being made up

Encarnacion

A number of steam locomotives had been left to the jungle

It was not a good idea go go into the vegetation - never know what might be hiding in there

This was the only diesel I saw in Paraguay.  It is on a transfer at Encarnacion from Argentina.  Argentina did lend Paraguay a diesel to try out. Something was lost in the translation as it was not clear whether they broke it and gave it back or whether they couldn't get on with it.

Final picture at Encarnacion

In 1995 a dam under construction was beginning to inundate the eastern part of the railway in the Encarnacion area.  In La Paz in 2002 I had a brief discussion with Paraguay railway officials who were attending the Latin American Railway Congress meeting. The railway was on its last legs but they had the idea of running a passenger train between Asuncion and its airport. This came to naught the the railway is no more - it was wood fired steam powered until the end.