Railroad Atacama: English www.geovirtual2.cl |
History of the railroad in Atacama Region, ChileContent: Railroads of Atacama |
Museo
Virtual, Atacama W. Griem, 2017 |
Start of the route Atacama Railways Introduction railroads of Atacama
Introduction railroads and Map
Schematic map of current and historical routes |
![]()
Historic Railroad Network in the Atacama
Region, Chile |
Railways in Atacama ![]()
www.geovirtual-(english) ►
Content railway Atacama ![]() Tourism Others Paginas FFCC ![]() ![]() |
||
Paul Treutler Trip to Copiapo by train |
The routes in detail Locomotives and wagons
The Copiapo Locomotive |
|||
Tracks and Lines Trayectos de Taltal - Catalina Pan de Azúcar- Bombas - Carrizalillo Chañaral - Mina Potrerillos y Las Animas
Caldera - Mina El Algarrobo
Copiapó Carrizal Bajo - Yerbas Buenas - Jarilla
Vallenar
- Pedro León Gallo Ferrocarriles de Coquimbo y Región Valparaíso |
Map of the railway lines in the Atacama Region ![]() |
Railway stations
Taltal,
Refresco,
Ovalo
Altamira Chañaral
Inca de Oro
Copiapó Carrizal
Bajo,
Canto del Agua |
||
Literature about railroads Atacama A NEW BOOK! - Aviso de interés para los amantes
de los trenes: ![]() Map of all railroad lines of Atacama First Chilean locomotive: La Copiapó ![]() |
Introduction: The railway history of the Atacama region and Northern Chile . According to today's standards, it is hardly imaginable how a network of
railway lines could have existed in this extremely depopulated desert.
In general, this network was quite impressive, but it was mainly
industrial railways. Many of the tracks were initially driven with pure
horsepower and then converted to steam quite quickly. The British
industrial dominance in the years around 1850 led to a solid extension
of the first railway lines, with a track gauge of 1435 mm known to us,
the common European standard. It must be noted that a profitable mining
industry at that time (as it is today) could only be operated with an
efficient way of transport. In the years from 1850 to 1930 this only
applied to the railway. Horses and carriages could not guarantee a
reliable and cost-effective ore transport. The railway lines, which were
not connected to each other until the construction of the north-south
line around 1914, had a considerable extension. Unfortunately, a large
number of different track gauges were used in the end. Passenger
transport was extremely important for the demographic and socio-economic
development of the Atacama region, but often not a good business for the
railway companies. In addition, the dynamics of the mining industry
(changes in prices, depletion of deposits, etc.) caused many expensive
routes to soon lead uselessly into "nowhere". Villages were founded and
after a few decades they disappeared again. Soon it turned out that many
routes were no longer enough to cover the needs of industry and the
population. With the construction of asphalted roads and the
introduction of some scheduled bus connections or the provision of
lorries, a competition was born that could not be denied. Passenger
traffic was quickly transferred to the roads, and freight traffic soon
followed. The lines were shut down for several years and were finally
dismantled. The routes of Chañarcillo, Puquios, Jarilla, to name but a
few, disappeared forever. Today (2016) this tendency continues
(unfortunately). Only the routes Mina Colorado - Vallenar - Huasco and
Chañaral - Potrerillos are still active. The tracks around Copiapó, Inca
de Oro, Paipote etc. still exist, but the last curtain has already
fallen. Not only does this mean that an investment worth millions from
earlier times will vanish forever - a piece of industrial history will
also disappear. In these pages, this part of the story is to be
recalled. Old texts, plans and current views should reflect a little bit
this, perhaps most impressive form of industrial influence on nature.
The historical travel reports - especially about rail journeys - give
the blurred perceptions a current reference. It should be noted that
the Spanish pages are a little bit more extensive than the ones written
in English and thus provide much more information.
|
|||
Literature and Links:
more books and papers The Tramways of Chile: //FFCC in Atacama en inglés: http://members.aol.com/tranviario/ch03.html THOMSON, I. & ANGERSTEIN, D. (2000): Historia del Ferrocarril en Chile.- Colección Sociedad y Cultura; 312 páginas. ANDREES, RICHARD (1887): Allgemeiner Handatlas (Andree´s Handatlas).- Velhagen & Klasig 1887. ORIEL ALVAREZ GÓMEZ (1979): Atacama de Plata.- 270 páginas. ALLIENDE, M.P. (1993): Historia del Ferrocarril en Chile.- 111 páginas; Editorial Pehuen. Compañía de Ferro Carril de Copiapó (1882): INFORME DE LAS OPERACIONES DEL AÑO 1881 Y MEMORIA de los 30 AÑOS 1852-1881 (Museo Regional de Atacama) Compañía de Ferro Carril de Copiapó (1895): INFORME DE LAS OPERACIONES DEL AÑO 1894 (Museo Regional de Atacama |
![]() |
Content Atacama Region -
Sights in Atacama List of names and places of Atacama |
![]() |
www.geovirtual2.cl /
Museo Virtual /
Atacama Region /
Railroads of Atacama
© Dr. Wolfgang Griem, Chile - all rights reserved (
)
Published: 11.2.2009, updated: 1.10.2017
mail - Contact
See page of Wolfgang Griem
mail - Contact
Any new publication not
authorized by the authors is expressly prohibited. This applies in particular to
electronic publications:
Usage guidelines.
© Wolfgang Griem (2005, 2009) - Todos los derechos reservados - alle Rechte vorbehalten
- all rights reserved
K&W GEOLOG