TRAINS & TRAVEL
P.O. BOX 10625
RENO, NEVADA 89510-0625
Chris@traintrips.biz Rail Tours Manager. For question regarding tour itineraries and details.
Deborah@traintrips.biz Office Manager: Accounting
1-800 359-4870 USA
1-800 752-1836 CANADA
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(530) 836-1944
OFFICE HOURS 9AM TO 5PM MONDAY-FRIDAY
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Chile-Spectacular Trains In The North
RAILFAN TOUR
APRIL 20-MAY 6, 2012
Operated by Tanago Tours
SURE GO



We are offering you a trip packed with lots of highlights, but we also have to admit that Chile is too big and there are too many fantastic railway lines to visit to put them all into a 14-days-tour. We want to stay true to our principles to run stress-free, photographically intense tours, and don´t want to just hop from from one railway to the next without getting excellent photographic results!

We will visit the 50+ years old Italian shovel nose electrics of the FEPASA class E32 at Santiago de Chile, and follow the diesel action on the truly spectacular mountain line to the remote ore-smelter at Portrerillos. We spend several days in the Antofagasta region, where lots of trains climb from the harbour of Mejlliones to the high altitudes of the Andes mountain passes, visit the former steam locomotive shed at Baquedano that has been abandoned in the state it last operated in the middle of the Atacama desert.

North and East of Antofagasta we could spend months to chase trains on the spectacular mountain lines with diesel or electric traction.We will focus on the FCAB operations from Calama to Ollagüe at the Chile-Bolivia boarder: trains pass high volcanoes and traverse a high altitude salt desert.

The second, big private railroad company in Chile is Ferronor: they are faced with an unbelievable high demand from Chinese industries buying all mineral resources they can get hold of. Ferronor has to ship everything from the mines and smelters in the mountains to the harbours at the Pacific coats of Chile, and they do not know, which freight train to operate first: all are urgent and trains run 24/7 to meet the demand of the customers from overseas. We shall not complain, because more trains mean more excellent photographic opportunities on some of the most spectacular section of mountain railroading.

Nearly all railroad companies still use fairly "aged" rolling stock, most of it has been introduced into service 30 or more years ago, mostly in the US. All railroads in Chile make good money due to the increase of demand for minerals and other rare resources. A modernization of their fleets will surely happen within the next years - and SQM already started a modernization-program, replacing the old GE box cabs with new, home made Chilean electrics. But even with modern locomotives, the fantastic landscapes of the dry Atacama desert and the Andes mountains remain the same.



Day 1 Saturday April 21, 2012: (B) Arrival at Santiago de Chile in the morning. All participants meet at 09:00 at the airport. We transfer to our hotel for breakfast and a little relaxation after our long of flights. We then visit the railway museum with its collecting of Alco, Rogers, Henschel, and Borsig steam locomotives. In the afternoon we move on to FEPASA´s running shed, that not only hosts modern electric locomotives, but also the old Italian built E32 shovel-noses, eventually we can get a shot of the national railroad company EFE´s E30s, too. Accommodation at the Galerias Hotel in Santiago de Chile.





Day 2 Sunday April 22, 2012: (B) We will focus today on the regular, E30 or E32 hauled freight trains in the city and south of Santiago. We will be in close contact with FEPASA an EFE to stay informed about the train movements. Accommodation at the Galerias Hotel in Santiago de Chile.





Day 3 Monday April 23, 2012: (B) Early in the morning we fly from Santiago to Antofagasta, Chile´s largest port in the Northern areas. The central workshops of FCAB (Ferrocaril de Antofagasta) are located here and we have a workshop tour arranged for today. Basically all diesel locomotives have US origins, some were bought second hand from US railroads, other made a detour via Queensland (Australia)...Some years ago, FCAB brought steam locomotive #34, a 1927 North British built 2-4-4T back into life. The locomotive is still present at the workshops but out of order right now. There are plans to overhaul it again but currently no timetable exists for that task. Accommodation at the Radisson Hotel Antofagasta.

Day 4 Tuesday April 24, 2012, Tuesday: (B) Today we receive our 4x4 cars to start our epic journey through the North of Chile. We have booked really "big" 4x4s to get along on the partly unpaved roads of the Atacama desert and Andes mountains. Three drivers are already listed. If you would like to become a volunteer driver, you are most welcomed. Our destination today: Tocopilla, about 130 kms/80 mls north of Antofagasta. The drive to Tocopilla will be a thrilling experience. On the right side we will see the heights of the Cordilleras, on the left is shores of the Pacific Ocean. Every minute will offer new vistas! Tocopilla is base of SQM´s (Sociedad Química y Minera) railroad operations. This railroad is known by the railfans as the FC Tocopilla Al Toco. A nitrate mine at Mariá Elena is linked by a partly electric operated railway to the smelter and shipping facilities at Tocopilla. The railway line starts basically on sea-level and winds its way up the mountains in a truly fantastic way: Barilles station on 1.000 meters/3.280 ft a.s.l. is reached after 40 kms/25 mls already. This section is the most challenging one and thus has been electrified in the 1920s. Trains from Barilles to Mariá Elena are hauled by elderly (50 years +) GE diesel locomotives. Until recently, the electric line was exclusively operated by 1927 GE, Schenectady built box-cabs. SQM ordered a batch of new, Chile built electric locomotives which are slowly but steadily getting into operation. The transition phase from old to new motive power takes already longer than anticipated by SQM but the biggest teething problems of the new units have been overcome apparently. Accommodation at Tocopilla.







Day 5 Wednesday April 25, & Day 6 Thursday April 26, 2012: (B) We want to spend two full days along this spectacular line. We can´t predict what SQM´s electric operadtion will be like in April next year. In August 2011 at least 4 of the ageing GE-box cabs were still in full swing and busy with main line work. The fantastic landscape and the exciting ways to operate this railroad will stay the same, irrespectively from the motive power used. And who knows what the future will bring for the new engines: will they last as long as their predecessors? Accommodation at Tocopilla.

Day 6 Friday April 27, 2012: (B) We drive 160 Kms/100 mls eastward through the "Pampa de Tamarugal" where the small town of Calama will be the base for our photographic activities for the next few of days. Calama is an important stop for all FCAB trains between Antofagasta and Oallagüe, the boarder crossing into Bolivia. This section offers stunning views with high (6.000 Mtrs/20.000 ft), active volcanoes, a large salt lake and lots of long gradients. Accommodation at Calama.









Day 7 Saturday April 28, to Day 9 Monday April 30, 2012: (B) We spend three days along this fascinating section of desert railroading between Ollagüe and Calama. If there is enough interest, we can also visit the nearby Chuquicamata copper mine, the world´s largest copper mining open cast pit with a quite impressive "big hole". Accommodation at Calama.





Day 10 Tuesday May 1, 2012: (B) Today´s drive from Calama to Chañaral takes us ~400 Kms/250 mls in south-westerly direction. We will stop on the way at Baquendano: Ferronor operates a small diesel shed here, but of greater interest could be the former steam locomotive shed. When the railway decided to stop steam locomotive operations in the 1960s, the entire shed was left in the state it was last used. Thanks to the extremely dry climate the entire infrastructure, especially freight cars and steam locomotives, are still in a fairly good condition. On our way south we will run in parallel to the FCAB line to Antofagasta, and in Llanta we will explore the Ferronor operations to Potrerillos.Accommodation at Chañaral.

Day 11 Wednesday May 2, 2012 & Day 12 Thursday May 3, 2012: (B) The line to Potrerillos starts fairly unspectacular in a wide mountain valley towards the small town of Diego de Almagro - an important stop for trains to the mountains in the past, even a turntable has been used here. The line climbs steadily and soon reaches 2.300 mtrs/7.500 ft a.s.l. At Montadón the breathtaking part of this railroad operation starts: the lines swings in a tight 180° curve to the right and climbs in an absolutely stunning way with horseshoe curves and tunnels. Potrerillos is finally reached on 2.870 mtrs/9.416 ft. The world´s biggest copper mining company, Codelco, operates mining and processing plants here. The mine should have been closed already but the increased demands for commodies gave the mine another 15-20 years life time.

This unique piece of mountain railroading can be explored best by riding one of Ferronor´s freight trains. We have requested this for 6 months now but the reply is always the same: "too early"... This seems to be the standard answers regarding special trains in Chile. No one wants to talk about details and we are put off from month to month, and should request it again earliest 2-3 months ahead of our visit. Accommodation at Chañaral.



Day 13 Friday May 4, 2012: (B) We visit the Potrerillos-line for a last time this morning before we drive to the airport of El Salvador Bajo, where we return our rental cars and board the flight to Santiago de Chile in the afternoon. Accommodation at the Hilton Garden Inn Santiago.

Day 14 Saturday May 5 2012: (B) Santiago offers a lot of tourist and railfanning activities, your tour manager will help you getting the best action. We are actually working on more structured activities for this day, but are currently a little bit stuck due to the "last-minute" attitude of our Chilean counterparts. We will surely offer you something special but can´t confirm it right now! Afternoon transfer to the airport and flights back home.



PRICES                            ALL PRICES ARE PER PERSON
DOUBLE ROOM OCCUPANCY.................................$3898
SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT................................$ 568
DEPOSIT TO HOLD SPACE CONFIRMED.......................$ 500
FINAL PAYMENT DUE FEBRUARY 21, 2012

TOUR BOOKING CONDITIONS

TOUR PRICE: All tour prices are corrected to November 1, 2010 and are subject to change without notice, at any time. All prices based on double room occupancy. We reserve the right to change tour prices if necessary.

PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE: Personal items, meals not listed in the itinerary, laundry, phone calls, excess baggage charges, rental cars, side tours, insurance, passport fees including visas, vaccinations, gratuities, medical costs, tips to train or motor coach staff, extra tour costs due to unanticipated changes in the itinerary for reasons beyond our control, including weather, travel conditions, or cancellations, government intervention, sickness, political disputes, and failure of transportation or other causes beyond our control.

TRAVEL AND HEALTH DOCUMENTS: A valid passport is required for our international tours. In some cases a visa is also needed. Consult your health professional for the recommended immunizations and documents. Trains and Travel International , here on referred to as TTI, assumes no other responsibility if a client is refused entry into a country. Cost and cancellation fees will be paid by the client in the event they do not have valid documents.

CHANGE OF ITINERARY: We reserve the right to substitute, alter or modify the tour if any unexpected and unforeseen conditions beyond our control preventing the completion of such. Conditions can include weather, train schedules, equipment, motive power, revision of train consist, train delays, labor strikes, political disputes, derailments, closure of a rail line, break down of railroad or motive power equipment, railroads not honoring contracts and bus equipment problems. We will always endeavor, in each case, to provide substitutes, if any changes take place. TTI is not responsible for canceled trains, delays, hotel rooms, route changes or missed connections, for any reason whatsoever. We will not give refunds if such conditions or cancellations take place.

TRAVEL INSURANCE: Travel Insurance is mandatory for all tours. This insurance will cover and give the tour members many benefits and protection. Benefits include baggage, accident, life, trip cancellation, sickness, bankruptcy, strike, weather conditions, employer termination or layoff effecting you or a person sharing the room with you, terrorist incident in your departure city or city of destination, jury duty, you are subpoenaed, hijacked, or quarantined, your residence or traveling companion residence is rendered uninhabitable, emergency military duty, traffic accident, single supplement upgrade when your traveling companion cancels their trip, trip interruption, trip delay, missed connections, itinerary change, emergency medical benefits, medical evacuation, baggage delay and loss, pre-existing medical conditions if enrollment is within 21 days of your invoice date, burglary of you or your companion before departure, felonious assault of you or your traveling companion before departure, 24 hour hotline emergency assistance, emergency cash transfer and more. We will supply you with a travel insurance brochure with rates and application when we mail you the invoice after trip deposit is received. Travel insurance protects your vacation investments and is a very good investment for your travel and vacation money. US law allows us to offer this insurance to all persons Worldwide. We will accept a "refusal of travel insurance wavier" if you do not wish to purchase any travel insurance. FOR CUBA: Because of the nature of these tours travel insurance is MANDATORY for everyone. We have a special American travel insurance company that will insure all folks going to Cuba on legal US approved tours. This insurance information will be sent to you upon receiving your booking.

RESPONSIBILITY AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY: Accepting your payment represents an agreement that you understand all the conditions, to be a member of our tours. TTI gives notice that they are acting agents for the owners, contractors and suppliers, providing the transportation and all related travel services and assume no responsibility for injury, sickness, damage, loss, additional expenses accidental delay or irregularities which may be caused through willful or negligent acts or omissions on the part of the companies providing or engage in transportation, accommodations or services related to the accomplishment of the tour. Nor do we assume responsibility for natural disasters, social or political upheaval, acts of terrorism or acts of nature. TTI reserves the right to substitute hotels, tour leaders, equipment, motive power, trains, onboard accommodations, routes and to alter the itinerary when deemed necessary without notice. The right is also reserved to cancel any trip or train prior to departure for any reason . TTI is not responsible for expenses incurred by tour members in preparing for the tour, including non-refundable airline tickets, visa fees, planning, phone calls, or any other expenses. TTI reserves the right to decline to accept, or ask to leave a tour, any person whose actions impede the daily operations of a tour, welfare or enjoyment of other tour members. TTI cannot give any refunds for any unused services. The terms contained herein shall serve as a waiver of liability to TTI. Assumption of risk on behalf of the client, their heirs, executor, administrators, successors, and assigns for any and all known persons injuries

RESERVATIONS: A deposit is due in our office within 14 days after you make your bookings. Full payment is due 90 days before departure. You will receive an invoice, reservation form and current tour bulletins with your confirmation and travel insurance forms. No notice for final payment will be sent to you. It is your responsible to make the final payment on-time.

CANCELLATIONS: TTI does not accept cancellations on the phone. Cancellations must be received by postal mail, email or fax before any refunds will be considered. Allow enough time if sending your written notice by US mail postal system. When a written cancellation is received in the Trains and Travel office this will be the effective date of the cancellation. Please take note that it can take up to 60 days to to process some refunds. Cancellation refund rules: 100 days prior to the start of any tour you will receive a full refund less a $100 per person administration fee. 99 to 61 days before the departure of any tour there will be a 80% cancellation penalty based on the full cost of the tour. Cancellations received 60 or less days before the start of any tour will not receive any refund. GW Travel Ltd has their own cancellation rules and these will apply. If booking on GW Travel Ltd ask for cancellation rules.

PRE-DEPARTURE TOUR BULLETINS: Tour bulletins will be sent to clients that have booked on tours operated by TTI. Bulletins include travel info related to the tour. Final documents will be sent out about two to three weeks before a tour begins. We offer tours operated by other companies and they may or may not send out tour bulletins and updates and most send out final documents only one to two weeks prior to the start of their tours.

PAYMENTS: Payments can be made with personal check drawn on a U.S. Dollar account, money order for U.S. Dollars, bank wire transfer, or credit card. We accept Visa, Master Card, Discover or American Express. Final payment for all tours is due 90 days prior to departure. If final payment has not been received 7 days after the due date, a late fee of $50 per week will apply.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: All prices are based on double room occupancy. We will try and match you with a roommate if one is available. If not, you may be charged the single room supplement listed for the tour you are booked on. Single rooms may not be available in some remote locations and on some trains.

TOUR REFUNDS: If for any reason tour members amend or delete any arrangements during travel, and leave the tour on their own, we cannot give any refunds on unused portions of the tour. If buses and trains are cancelled by the carrier or there is a labor strike or they go out of business, we cannot be held responsible and we cannot give refunds. Travel insurance will protect you for any of these reasons. If TTI needs to cancel any tour everyone will receive a full refund. Please take note that in some cases refunds can take up to 60 days to process.

PARTIAL TOURS: We will allow passengers to join or leave a tour at certain points. It will all depend on the tour and the conditions. Give us a call and we will try and work up a custom option for you.

MILEAGE COLLECTORS: Mileage collectors please take note that TTI does not cater just to mileage collectors. We cater to all folks that enjoy trains and Rail journeys. We give strong warning that itinerary and route changes do happen and this is totally beyond our control when it does. If the only reason that you would want to book a tour is to collect the rare mileage, you need to understand that possible route changes do happen.

00997  visits since September 19, 2011.

Last modified: Thursday, 12-Jan-2012 08:16:41 PST