Transandino Uspallata railway Free Pictures

Transandino Uspallata Railway in Free Pictures brings from the past the Mendoza-Santiago railway. Traversing Uspallata Valley along the Rio Mendoza and tunnel under Cordilleras, it connected Buenos Aires with Santiago.

Page 4

Transandino Uspallata Railway Free Pictures: Revisiting the past

At the time of its official opening in 1910, the Trans-Andean Railway (Ferrocarril Transandino) connecting Buenos Aires on the Atlantic coast with Valparaiso on the Pacific side was raising huge expectations.

Indeed after almost 20 years of construction, the railways opened new horizons for fast growing commercial and passenger traffic across the continent.

To make it clear - the passenger train service from Buenos Aires to Valparaiso (in other words the trip from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific one) was taking about 36 hours including stops.

However the corresponding journey by sea from Buenos Aires to Valparaiso either through the Magellan Strait or over treacherous waters around Cape Horn was taking 11 to 12 days.

Indeed the new transcontinental railway was expected to be a commercial success. Unfortunately for several reasons the hopes did not materialize as planned.

From the beginning the railroad was plagued by frequent avalanches, landslides, abundant snowfalls and torrential waters despite protective snow-sheds and tunnels designed over the long portion of tracks in the high mountains. As the matter of fact the disastrous flooding in 1934 destroyed more than 120 km of tracks on the Argentinean side, for years putting the whole system out of work.

The relatively steep slops on both access sides to the Cumbre Tunnel (main railroad tunnel under the mountains) significantly reduced the maximum load that could be transported by trains.

Transandino Uspallata Railway Free Pictures: Historical Trans-Andean Steam Locomotive in Mendoza (Argentina)

With time, a more convenient and faster motor-vehicle traffic overtook services provided the Trans-Andean railway. The Cumbre Tunnel gradually started to share cars and trains (quite a nightmare from the logistical point of view given its length and narrowness).

Opening the modern RN-7 with a new road tunnel (Cristo Redentor de los Andes) definitely sealed the destiny of the Trans-Andean Railway. The last train freight crossed the Andes in 1984.

Transandino Uspallata Railway Free Pictures: In late 1930's the Chilean part of the railroad was electrified. Here the current state of old electrical installations at the border station in Las Cuevas....

Certainly the Ferrocarril Trasandino was never a commercial success. However its “adventurous” part mystified by countless true and not-so stories and magnified by the extraordinary landscape and generously rich palette of colors of High Andes is still alive and actually on the verge of revival.

Transandino Uspallata Railway Free Pictures: Numerous snow-sheds were used along the railroad to protect tracks from snow and falling rocks...

Since few years both governments are discussing the feasibility and economical aspects of re-opening this historical railroad.

Undoubtedly it will require a major re-work, especially on the Argentinean side where the large part of the tracks is in a “state of sorry”…(if it is at all!).

But surely, the positive decision will be highly appreciated and loudly applauded by the community of tourists.

Honestly, there is nothing more enchanting and romantic than a “voyage” to the past…..

full size: 3.61MB	2.94MB	5.45MB

Transandino Uspallata Railway Free Pictures: Last station on the Argentinean side in Las Cuevas.

full size: 5.01MB	5.52MB	6.17MB

Transandino Uspallata Railway Free Pictures: Left: Station Building in LAs Cuevas
center: One of only few segments of railroad tracks in still relatively good shape on the Argentina side.
Right: landslides and falling rocks constantly threatened the Trans-Andean railroad...

full size: 4.82MB	4.48MB	4.91MB

Transandino Uspallata Railway Free Pictures: Railway station at Puente del Inca was certainly busy at the time of glory of the famous Thermal Spa.

full size: 6.71MB	5.24MB	5.76MB

full size: 4.94MB	4.01MB	5.41MB

Transandino Uspallata Railway Free Pictures: Reddish waters of the upper Mendoza River....

full size: 5.65MB	6.91MB	4.80MB

Transandino Uspallata Railway Free Pictures: Life can always find its way, even in this iron-ore contaminated rocky land.... And that is the beauty of the nature, so clearly visible in this Andean landscape...

full size: 4.40MB	7.25MB	6.17MB

Transandino Uspallata Railway Free Pictures: heading back to Mendoza...

full size: 4.74MB	2.05MB	1.96MB

Transandino Uspallata Railway Free Pictures: Late evening sky matches the palette of colors displayed all along the Uspallata Valley in High Cordilleras.

I'm sure that you enjoyed this Andean Adventure on the road from Mendoza to Santiago (actually to the border "town" Las Cuevas).

All along the Uspallata Valley you were able to witness the incredible beauty of nature.

You were able to admire the vibrant and colorful life finding its way in this rather unfriendly landscape and climate.

You were certainly amazed by the remarkable spectacle of shapes in full rainbow of colors.

Yes, this part of High Andes so graciously combined the raw, imposing power of rocky mountainous ranges with vibrant forms of life.

I hope that one day you will have chance to personally experience a joy of High Andes Adventure, here proposed by the virtual tour with pictures presented by Transandino Uspallata Railway Free Pictures and all previous pages.

You can go back to Mendoza following our tour in a "backward" direction (pretending you are coming from Santiago de Chile) by selecting the link:
Road to Cristo Redentor de los Andes (previous)
or
Restart the whole adventure from Mendoza by starting from:
Mendoza-Santiago Road

If you enjoyed this visit, then please share your experience with friends :-)


Tweet

----------------------------------------
Not sure yet where to go and what to see in Argentina? You may find help selecting: Tourist Destinations in Argentina

However if you are falling in love with Buenos Aires (I do not blame you, it happened to me) then please select: Buenos Aires Walking Tours

If you want to prepare yourself for vacation in Argentina then please select:
Argentina Travel Tips


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

To see the full content of the Amazing World in Free Stock Pictures and Photos go to: Site Map

Go to Free Stock Animal Pictures and Photos by clicking: Animal World to remember that we are not alone on this planet....

Go to Free Stock City Pictures and Photos by clicking: City and more.... to see many normally unseen scenes from places we pass by every day....

Go to Free Stock Nature Pictures and Photos by clicking: Mother Nature to bring the stunning beauty of the nature to your daily life.

Or simply start this adventure from the beginning going to the Home Page by clicking:Amazing World in Free Stock Pictures and Photos

---

Privacy Notes:

1. These pictures may only be downloaded for personal use and non-commercial educational or conservation purposes. Please read: Terms of Use
   
2. Click right on the picture to copy its low resolution version or click left to open the full size picture in a new window. For more details please read: How to?