Colin Churcher 2020

  An excursion to Leleque, a little way south of El Maiten provided many opportunities for pictures We took time off from railfanning to eat a sumptuous Argentinian meal At Leleque The locomotive was turned on the wye at Leleque Posing at Leleque

We arrived at El Maiten where the main workshops are located. We had an opportunity to have a good look around. This is the remaining 0-6-0 tank engine. Four were built by Henschel in 1922. The other three were transferred away and are long gone Newly built/restored locomotive cabs ready to be installed Seventy five 2-8-0 tender engines were delivered in 1922 to what was planned to have been a very large narrow gauge network in Patagonia. In the end only this line to Esquel was build (along with a small number of isolated branches).This now results in a large number of hulks rusting away. The workshop was busy Steam locomotive backhead An example of the car painters' art They say if you look hard and long enough you can find a prototype for anything. Here we have what appears to be a gasoline powered inspection vehicle build around some rod driven steam locomotive wheels  The Chubut river flows around El Maiten and we had a glorious runpast on the bridge The injector is overflowing

  We continued on our journey southwards on the 750 mm narrow gauge line There were several stops for water, all complicated by the fact that the train had to be drawn up to water the second locomotive. In many cases we were greeted by the local people, curious to see a train load of gringos. Being in the rain shadow of the Andes the country is semi arid scrub. A good runpast site A photo op while taking water We all had fun We finally reached El Maiten El Maiten

Next morning at Ing. Jacobacci we were up early to see the locomotives being prepared for our trip. Not sure why this derelict locomotive was up on a raised track. The vacuum brake hoses were coupled up and the safety chains secured ready for departure. The first part out of town was over the three rail dual gauge line.  Our first run past was where the two gauges split.  The signal for the narrow gauge has been raised.   This is a very remote, desolate spot and I don't know who operated the signal or under what authority.  Maybe it was just done for our benefit.  There is not a great deal of need for it when there was only one train in each direction in a week We are now set for our journey to El Maiten and Esquel.    

  Grant Us a Good Trip We had an overnight journey on the broad gauge from Buenos Aires to Ing. Jacobacci arriving there late the next afternoon. We were in a sleeping car marshalled right next to a wooden kitchen car which prepared food over a large open coal fire.  Before we left Buenos Aires all train doors were locked. I was told the reason for this was to stop people getting in while the train was stopped in the suburbs of Buenos Aires.  This was a serious safety hazard.  The track was very bad indeed. If we had derailed the wooden kitchen car would inevitably catch fire and we would be unable to escape the conflagration.  We were let out next morning More British-style signals complete with finials Staff system. No tokens in the right hand machine. An open air interlocking frame with the levers all painted the same color regardless of function We reached Ing. Jacobacci that evening. Tomorrow we would ride the narrow gauge towards Esquel.