Steam in Ecuador

This report originally contained some 1990s pictures but I have taken these down (no space!). For Ecuador steam in 2002, click here.

The El Nino floods did cause some damage to the Guayaquil & Quito Railroad, but most of the mainline is back open as very little damage was done to the section between Huigra and Quito, a distance of 171 spectacular miles in the Andes. During July and August 1998 the railroad ran more steam hauled railfan trains than in recent years and in fact ran some 20 charter trains all with Baldwin steam for three different railfan groups. The old G&Q Railroad is far from dead! As of August 1998 there are five Baldwins stored serviceable and used for charters and the Sunday tourist train out of Quito.

No. 11	Baldwin	2-6-0	1900
No. 14	Baldwin	2-6-0	1901
No. 17	Baldwin	2-8-0	1935	Lettered for the FC Sibambe & Cuenca
No. 53	BLH	2-8-0	1953
No. 58	BLH	2-8-0	1953	Last NG Baldwin

The tri-weekly mixto betwen Quito and Huigra is being handled by the 1992 French GEC Alsthom diesels. One of the 2-8-0s handles the Sunday tourist train Quito to Cotopaxi and return. Baldwin No. 14 is now in Ibarra on the remote San Lorenzo Railroad and was run on a Trains Unlimited, Tours charter from Ibarra to Carchi (31 miles) on August 14 1998.

According to railroad management, the line between Huigra and Duran will be repaired and reopen as soon as possible. On August 9, 1998 TUT was able to run a short charter out of Duran pulled by Baldwin No. 11. The general manager reports that by mid-1999 the entire G&Q will be open and available for steam charters including the San Lorenzo Railroad.

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