History of the railroad in Atacama Region, Chile

History of railways,  Atacama: p.1 І p.2 І p.3 І p.4 

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Historic Railroad Network in the Atacama Region, Chile

The map of the railway lines in Atacama shows well the enormous number of railway lines in the Atacama Region. It should be noted that some routes were never running at the same time (for example, the Potrerillos and Carrizalillo routes).

It is also noticeable that in the beginning the systems were independent and had no connection at all:
Chañaral System, Caldera/Copiapó System, Carrizal System and Huasco / Vallenar System. Only with the realization of the Longitudinal path the systems were united.

By analyzing the dates of construction it is possible to differentiate between four periods of construction:
a) 1851 to 1858: The construction of the railway lines of the Copiapó river valley.
b) 1864 to 1871: Beginning of the journeys in Chañaral and Carrizal, in addition to extensions in the Copiapó river valley.
c) 1887 to 1914: Longitudinal line, Vallenar - Huasco line and branches in different sectors.
d) (1928) mainly 1955 - present: Modern lines for mining and the Copiapó bypass.

The lack of routes in some years corresponds well with years of crisis in mining activities. From the 1970s onwards, technological changes led to a decrease in the use of railways as the main means of transport in mining.

De. Guía del Veraneante 1947. - FFCC del Estado Chile

From Guía del Veraneante 1947. - FFCC del Estado Chile