Steam Locomotives in Chile 1997

Derek Hyland writes again (26^th March 1997):

(Ian Thomson has written 31^st March 1997 pointing out that the transfer of 714 was controversial. You can read his comments and Derek's response.)

"The planned steam excursions during the summer month ran just beautifully, including a first for us, running the train Saturday AND Sunday.

Sunday, January 12 - CANCELLED
Sunday, January 26 - Ran OK - Sold Out
Sunday, February 9 - Ran OK - Sold Out
Sunday, February 23 - Ran OK - Sold Out
Saturday, February 22 - RAN OK - Sold Out

We are forming an engine staff team, with a retired engine driver (but still active and with his train driving ticket still current), and a handful of volunteers (included myself) that are learning the ropes (firing and driving, plus all the rest).

The locomotive, #714 Mikado 2-8-2, should be sent back to Temuco, where she belongs, but we may keep her an extra six month in Santiago to run additional excursions. One possible date we are considering, is the 21st May, Chile's naval day holiday, and we are thinking of running the train down to the coastal port of San Antonio, 108 Km due west.

Other information is that the main Chilean locomotive works in San Bernardo or MSB, officially closed its doors on the 29 of February, when it was handed over to a Malaysian consortium that will re-develop the site. The main erecting shop will remain, as it was the first (so we understand) re-inforced concrete structure to be built on the continent circa 1930 (South America that is), and as such, is practically indestructible (the cost of pulling it down are prohibitive!) A small railway museum is planned, but no further details are yet available.

It sadly seems that locomotive #851 Mountain 4-8-2 has its days counted as an active performer, as the crown plate in the boiler would be beyond economical repair. The plan is, so far, to replace her with classmate #820, of legitimate Baldwin origin (#852 was built by Mitsubishi to Baldwin plans). There is also talk about bringing the Krupp built #903 Mikado 2-8-2, a much bigger engine than #714. So big in fact, that it has a mechanical stoker fitted firebox. One possibility that we are looking into, is converting it to oil firing, as the stoker worm is broken."

Ian Thomson writes:

"Please don’t go broadcasting around the world the case of locomotive No. 714 being brought illegally to Santiago…..
Here in Chile, steam train specials are happening in the centre of the country, but not in the south; .the reason being that the Railway Conservation Society ACCPF brought from the south (Temuco) a working locomotive (714), which had been well looked after for 12 years by the railfans in Temuco and which forms part of the Temuco Railway Museum, which is a National Monument. To move a part of a National Monument permission has to be granted by the National Monuments Commission, which, in this case, it was not, since it was not asked for. The ACCPF brought the locomotive to Santiago since Santiago’s working locomotive (851) ceased to work."

Derek Hyland writes:

"The locomotive in question, #714, together with all the rest of the fleet of broad gauge locomotives, ultimately belongs to the Chilean State Railways (EFE), it was moved by them, not by the ACCPF. The fact that #714 was declared a national monument together with Temuco’s Roundhouse and the rest of the fleet in it, doesn’t mean that the locomotive is stranded to where it was when appointed. #714 has left the roundhouse in Temuco on numerous occasions to run excursion trains. The fact is that the National Monuments' law was designed for permanent structures (buildings, bridges, etc.). Even so, there is a clause for movable items, that these should not leave the owners property without the National Monument's consent, and in no case has #714 left the tracks of EFE. Finally, the National Monuments Committee have been approached, and they do not only agree with the bringing the engine to Santiago, but have authorized it to stay for another 6 to 8 months, as far as my knowledge can tell. Apart from a private charter for The Friends of the Poet (Pablo Neruda Foundation), and occasionally foreign tour groups, the locomotive has seen no public outings in several years. Chile has over 45% of its population concentrated in Santiago, so the operation of steam tours from here is essential to keep the steam movement alive, and provide the necessary cash. When #851 failed early last year, we spent a whole year without the possibility of operating trains, our main source of income. In November, we had contracts to fulfill with tour operators, so our only hope honouring our obligations, was to operate them with #714, a resource lying unused in Temuco."

Both of these contributions have been heavily edited (the originals are not available!) and I hope that I have maintained the sense of what they have both said. Anyone wishing to follow up the points raised can Email either of them! I am not going to get involved in Chilean Railway preservation politics - this is a steam news page and the matter is now closed.