by Benny
The Ferrocarril Central Andino (FCCA) is a west-east railroad of Peru and connects the port of Callao, the most important of the nation, with Huancayo crossing Lima and passing the 4700 m asl on the route. On its going between the Constitutional Province of Callao and the northern districts of Lima the line crosses populated and frequently heavily run down areas at a speed of 15-20 mph because of the thousands of road crossings, also with the main arteries, without barriers or lightning signs and the multitude of "bidonvilles" grown on the sides of the track. There is only freight service (apart from a tourist service approx. 15 times a year) and trains are made depending the needs without timetables; normally there are 2 to 4 train pairs a day. The entire line is controlled from a central room in Chosica and there aren't signals, all indications are given by radio. Principal goods transported are products related with the mining and refining industries. Rolling stock is of north-american type and locos normally used are nearly all second hand.
I live in Lima so what I can show you is the first part of the line, from Callao to San Bartolome, because it's the nearest one (only to arrive to S. Bartolome I need a 2h driving for 45 miles) but when I will go over on the mountains and to the really spectacular part of the route will report it. For the time being I hope you can enjoy some pictures taken in places where tourists normally don't go. Photos are not my best ones, they are taken with a compact camera because I'm one of the last lovers of classic black and white films but here I cannot find chemicals for developping and, more important, a small camera is easier to hide in hot places.
In previous times the line reached the piers of the Callao harbour but now starts from a cramped terminal in Avenida Atalaya that is used only by tank wagons. On the side of this area there were a loco depot and the works that now are displaced in Chosica, 33 miles east. In this shot is showed the simple end of one of the most interesting lines of the world. Until two months ago the old track on the side of the wall to the harbour was still in situ. The real start of the line is approx. half a mile back, always in Avenida Atalaya, inside the so called "patio central", that is the minerals terminal connected with the ships by a very long transporting belt; the site is used also as a small marshalling yard and a stabling point for the locos waiting to return back. On the right of the image there is the entrance to the patio central and on the left is the track that follows until the tankers terminal. These two images were taken on early Sunday morning; taking photos between the two terminals in other times is very difficult because of the trucks queuing on the side road before entering into the port area.
In the following image you can see a mixed freight hauled by C39-8 1012 (the one that was modified for gas use) starting its journey at the crossing with Av. Gambetta, just outside the Patio Central siding. Note the heavy road traffic. The train driving style is "I will cross and if you don't stop you will be the damaged one". It follow on.
Ciao
I live in Lima so what I can show you is the first part of the line, from Callao to San Bartolome, because it's the nearest one (only to arrive to S. Bartolome I need a 2h driving for 45 miles) but when I will go over on the mountains and to the really spectacular part of the route will report it. For the time being I hope you can enjoy some pictures taken in places where tourists normally don't go. Photos are not my best ones, they are taken with a compact camera because I'm one of the last lovers of classic black and white films but here I cannot find chemicals for developping and, more important, a small camera is easier to hide in hot places.
In previous times the line reached the piers of the Callao harbour but now starts from a cramped terminal in Avenida Atalaya that is used only by tank wagons. On the side of this area there were a loco depot and the works that now are displaced in Chosica, 33 miles east. In this shot is showed the simple end of one of the most interesting lines of the world. Until two months ago the old track on the side of the wall to the harbour was still in situ. The real start of the line is approx. half a mile back, always in Avenida Atalaya, inside the so called "patio central", that is the minerals terminal connected with the ships by a very long transporting belt; the site is used also as a small marshalling yard and a stabling point for the locos waiting to return back. On the right of the image there is the entrance to the patio central and on the left is the track that follows until the tankers terminal. These two images were taken on early Sunday morning; taking photos between the two terminals in other times is very difficult because of the trucks queuing on the side road before entering into the port area.
In the following image you can see a mixed freight hauled by C39-8 1012 (the one that was modified for gas use) starting its journey at the crossing with Av. Gambetta, just outside the Patio Central siding. Note the heavy road traffic. The train driving style is "I will cross and if you don't stop you will be the damaged one". It follow on.
Ciao
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