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Bruno Sanches writes about his ABPF Chapter (information to October 2012).
For information on other preserved steam activity in the country, please see
my Brazil summary page.
ABPF (www.abpf.com.br) is split in Chapters, here we run the Regional Sul de Minas (or South of Minas Chapter). Our operation is split in 3 cities:
Cruzeiro
Located in São Paulo state, where originally was km0 from the Minas and Rio railroad, that run from Cruzeiro to Três
Corações, MG. The line was closed in 1991 and ABPF started using it around 1996. Actually in Cruzeiro we have the main steam locomotive repair shop, where we perform engines rebuild and heavy maintenance.
Right now the rooster is composed of:
522 (2-8-2), Alco, 1926: under restoration (http://abpfsuldeminas.com/locomotiva-522/)
520 (2-8-2), Baldwin, 1912, waiting restoration
221 (2-8-0), Robert Stephenson & Co, UK, waiting restoration
2 (0-4-0T), Alco, 1923, operating condition, used as switcher
103 (0-6-0T), North British Locomotive Co. Ltd, waiting restoration, famous for being used in the fell line in RJ state
207 (4-6-2), Hartmann, 1925, as far we know, the last Hartmann in Brazil, waiting for restoration
Also we have some small diesels:
Brookville 1: being restored
Brookville 2: waiting restoration
GE 15 ton, being restored. The only one in Brazil and appears to be a quite rare engine in the world.
Passa Quatro
This is where we run the Trem da Serra da Mantiqueira (more info and pictures:
http://abpfsuldeminas.com/trem-da-serra-da-mantiqueira/). The train runs every weekend and holidays. It goes from Passa Quatro station (km 34) to the mountain summit (km 25). With grades around 3.5% and sharp curves.
The current working engine is 332 (4-6-2), Baldwin, 1925 (http://abpfsuldeminas.com/locomotiva-332/) and two wood passenger cars. 332 certainly will be replaced by 522 (currently in
Cruzeiro) in 2013 and it will be sent to
be rebuilt. (Picture by Tom Schultz, 2009)
Timetable:
Saturday: 10:00hs, arriving back around 12:00hs, and 14:30, arriving back around 16:30
Sunday: 10:00hs, arriving back around 12:00hs
São Lourenco
This is where we run the Trem das Águas (more info and pictures: http://abpfsuldeminas.com/trem-das-aguas/). Follows the same schedule as Passa Quatro train, running every weekend. The trips
go from São Lourenço (km 80) to Soledade (km 90).
The current working engine is 1424 (2-8-2), Baldwin, 1927 (picture by
James Waite 2012)
and sometimes it is replaced by 327 (4-6-2)
(http://abpfsuldeminas.com/locomotiva-327/), Beyer Peacock, UK, 1928.
Also in the station, the visitors can find engine 8 (0-4-0T), Lokomotivfabrik Krauss & Comp, 1892
(800mm gauge).
This is where the car repairs shop is located and the cars are rebuilt here.
Also, since 2011 we are working to restore the section from São
Lourenço (km 80) to São Sebastião do Rio Verde (km 70), it may open in 2013 or 2014.
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