Steam in Argentina

The Esquel line is now running four trains a week during the Spring-Summer-Fall. In the winter time most trains are cancelled depending on the snow conditions.

The "Old Patagonian Express" operates El Maiten to Esquel on Wednesday and returns on Thursday.  A tourist train operates Esquel to Nahual Pan and return on Sunday and from El Maiten to Lepa and return.  That means there are two trains on the line on Sunday!!

On October 23-24-25 1998 three charter trains were run including a 12 car doubleheader for Trains Unlimited, Tours.  The doubleheader ran Esquel to Nahual Pan and return with Baldwin No.16, a 2-8-2 of 1922 and Henschel No. 107, a 2-8-2 of 1922.

Warning: Now that the new highway is completed between Bariloche and Esquel the old dirt highway between Leleque and La Cancha stations (42 miles) has been given to the local ranchers.  The ranchers have put gates across the road at several locations and most of the time these gates are locked.  If a railfan finds the gates not locked please close the gate behind you as not to let the cattle out.  Proceed with caution past the gates as some of the ranchers have already fired shots at railfans to chase them away.

The name of the railroad now operating this once Roca narrow gauge line is FC del Chubut.  Passenger loadings are up 50% from 1997 according to the general manager.   (All tourist and railfans)  As of October 1998 the railroad had five steam engines servicable (Baldwins and Henschel) and there was a Baldwin being rebuilt at the workshops in El Maiten.

The Ferroclub Argentino in Buenos Aires now has three standard gauge steam locomotives based at Lynch on the old Urquiza Railraod, now called Ferrcarril Mesopotamico.   These engines are used for charter work and weekend tourist runs out of Lynch to Fatima and return.  They are:

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