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See also James Waite' April 2012
report.
Heinz Buehler updates Louis
Cerny's 2004 information below (7th November 2005).
The tourist train that is operated by Americatravel between San Jose and Puerto Calderas runs Saturdays and/or Sundays, and is
used by mostly local folks. Ask for current information at the Pacifico station ticket counter, especially during the rainy/few-tourist season.
The train features music and drinks and is a real party train. I have seen two of these trains pass, and they were crammed - and this was in October,
the rainiest month in Costa Rica. I was allowed into the station and shop area to take pictures - simply by asking the armed guard for this at the shops entrance. He made
a series of telephone calls to whoever, but finally I got permission to get in. There is a nice park with trees and park benches within the
station area, which makes waiting for the train to leave quite relaxing.
San José
The museum at the Atlantico station is no longer a Railway museum, it is now the museo but
previously noted in these columns is located in the Atlantico Station.
It is now open to the public, although most visitors are school children. The Baldwin 2-6-0 is displayed at the east end of the station is not any more behind fences.
There are still armed guards on the premises, but this is easy living Costa Rica - so just speak to them, but before trying to trespass - they will just help you, you'll see.
There is - since about 5 weeks now - passenger service on the line between both ends of the city. Several trains operate in the early morning hours, and also in the
evening hours (two or three trains, following a complicated train table that I have not been able to understand). The track between the Pacifico station and the
Atlantico station is therefore used several times per day, and photography is best done in the morning hours (in the evening the trains run after dark).
The hotel 'Fleur de Lys' is located just next to this bit of tracks, and this is also where
I have taken some of my pictures, which will appear on this site soon, www.heinz-buehler.ch.
Louis Cerny comments on his visit in
January 2004 (added 7th February 2004):
"The 1067mm gauge line from the Pacifico station in San Jose to the port of
Caldera on the Pacific has been restored to operation since 2001. There is occasional
freight, sometimes not for weeks and then other times daily for a few days when a ship is
being unloaded at Caldera. There is a Sunday-only passenger train which leaves San Jose in
the morning for Caldera, and returns in the evening. On January 18, 2004 the train had
eight cars with 383 passengers. I travelled the entire 93km line by inspection car on
January 13th, 2004. The train is available for charter. Juan Paniagua is the manager and can
be contacted at americatravel@msn.com There are
two steam locomotives plinthed at the Pacifico station, a 2-4-0 and an 0-4-2T. I was told
that there are two 2-8-2 914mm gauge locomotives derelict at Golfito in the extreme
southeastern part of the country."
I get occasional queries about it so I added a snippet with minor steam interest. (4th
October 1999) Colin Martindale was here earlier in the year and reports:
Dole Banana Plantations, Heredia Province
A road tour of the Dole plantations west of the Chirripó River showed that the railways
here had not been used for many years. However most of the track work was still in situ
although heavily overgrown in typically tropical fashion.
Siquirres
Four locomotives are stored here in a fenced compound, along with track maintenance
vehicles and equipment. A security guard toting a six gun was patrolling the yard. Outside
the yard several short lines of passenger and freight stock were parked. The track work in
the area of the shed and station was well maintained with points greased, etc. The
condition of the rails showed that one or two trains per week must be running. The station
has been let, or sold, to several local businesses including a funeral parlour. On the
south side of the station are two plaques commemorating the 1982 upgrading and
electrification of the line.
Siquirres - San José
This section of line appears to be completely disused but the track is still in
situ. At
all locations the overhead wires have been removed as have most headspan wires and many
support poles. At Turrialba the line was crossed without being seen! In Cartago the line
is being used as a bus station near the centre of town and piles of refuse are dumped on
it elsewhere. On the eastern approaches to San José the track is very rusty and the
sleepers clearly rotting.
San José
The Railway Museum previously noted in these columns is located in the Atlantico Station.
The museum is not open to the public, only to school students on organized visits. A
Baldwin 2-6-0 is displayed at the east end of the station behind a high wire fence. The
locomotive can be accessed via the museum but casual visitors are warned that it is
protected by motion sensors, your correspondent was escorted from the premises by another
pistol packing security guard!
The Pacifico Shops are located immediately to the south of the Pacifico Station. The
bulk of the railway's locomotives are stored here. At least two locomotives were
undergoing major overhaul although the shops appeared only to have a skeleton staff. The
condition of the rails indicated that a fair amount of shunting must take place, at least
within the yard. The line connecting the Pacifico and Atlantico stations is in similarly
disused condition to that between Siquirres and San José. The Pacifico station is good
condition with polished floors and functioning offices, it is now to be the headquarters
for the railway.
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