Abyss

This train has 23 tank cars full of sulfuric acid. It has left the Potrerillos copper refinery around 9:00 am. The plant is very close. It is just a matter of about 10 kilo... (more)

4638 meters / 15217 feet

I wanted to make a picture epitomizing the FCCA railroad, a picture that would say “This is high mountain railroading on standard gauge track”.... (more)

Andean skies

The weather is changing fast, as is the case in most high mountains in the world. The sky is full of grey clouds and there is a light snow fall. This is usual weather ... (more)

Spectacular Andes

We are on the high plateau behind the Andes mountain range that you can see beyond the lakes. The landscapes - adorned with wild life - are beautiful as long ... (more)

.......ssssssssssssSPEED!...

We are on the Mediterranean HST (LGV Méditerranée in French) also called LN5 i.e. "Ligne Nouvelle 5" (New Line number 5). It was opened in June 200... (more)

A South American "Land Bridge" Train

Land bridge transportation means transportation from one seaport to another by railway across continents instead of by ocean ship. A typical ... (more)

Dance with the trains

A Little Hell

One of the most famous bridges of the Lima to La Oroya line is the Infiernillo - Little Hell - Bridge, located in a narrow canyon between two tunnels. It was as a c... (more)

A GE Box Cab survivor still in regular service: looks like the good fresh air of the Pacific Ocean keeps these elderly ladies healthy.

Railroad: SQM (Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile)
Locomotive: GE Box Cab
Location: Tocopilla, Chile
Locomotive #: SQM 604
Train ID: -
Photo Date: December 10, 2009

Volcano smoke competing with locomotive smokes!
There are very few pictures on RPN showing a train with a live volcano displaying volcanic activity. I only found another one, from Gian... (more)

In summer (southern Hemisphere summer is in December), there is often some fog where the Atacama Desert nears the Pacific Ocean. Early morning light can be particularly wonderful before the tropic... (more)

This is one of the most spectacular railroads that I have ever seen. It climbs the Andes Precordillera up to 2850 meters / 9350 ft. It is a meter gauge line, similar to most other Chilean lines. I... (more)

An old lady still at work: this unit and its 4 sisters are the only GE Box Cab survivors in regular service today. Built in the mid and late 1920's they are among the oldest electric engines still... (more)

Quietly taking the sunset light, this Laurel-Missoula train waits for the track gang to clear the track before resuming its journey

Yellow sunset, moonrise, and luck - Seeing no trains for about one hour, I had taken some pictures of the landscape with a beautiful yellowish sunset. Then I had called it a day. I was driving, go... (more)