PRESS RELEASE
APRIL 25, 2011
RENO, NEVADA
STRONG WINDS BLOW OVER
THE PATAGONIAN EXPRESS
Chubut, April 23, 2011.- The legendary “Old Patagonian Express” known as “La Trochita” derailed near Esquel city due to strong winds that lashed the area.
Fortunately there were no serious injuries despite the locomotive and the entire train derailed and rolled over an enbankment. The train was carrying 150 passengers and 20 tourists had some minor injuries. The accident, which took place in the 180 degress "Devils Nose Curve" between Esquel and Nahuel Pán. 25 passengers to taken to the hospital in Esquel.
This accident could cause us to cancel our tour, as this was one of the engines we were going to use and some of the passenger cars. Once the train is picked up it will be taken to the workshops at El Maiten for repair. This could take more than a year to complete. We will watch this developing story closely.
The Old Patagonian Express has gone down in folklore history made popular by the author Paul Theroux and others over the years. But this train does exist in a remote region of the Argentine Patagonia, some 1000 miles southwest of Buenos Aires. Most railfans know this as the Esquel narrow gauge line. Locals call I t "El Trochita" and railroad management calls it "El Viejo Expreso Patagonico" Over the years this 251 mile 2' 5 1/2" (75cm) gauge line has seen good and bad times, has seen several trains per day to just one train per week and until just recently, no trains at all. One very important fact now stands out about this rail line…IT IS THE LAST AND LONGEST 100% STEAM OPERATED RAILROAD IN SOUTH AMERICA! The Baldwin and Henschel 2-8-2's are still receiving complete overhauls in the workshops at El Maiten.
This region of Southern Argentina not only remote but the scenery is spectacular. The scenery in the Andes on the border with Chile is breathtaking with snow covered mountains, glaciers, crystal clear rivers, waterfalls, lakes, volcanoes, wildlife, orchards and vineyards, all linked by railroads and some of the best train excursions and railfanning in South America. Our tour will start in Buenos Aires, Argentina and work it's way southwest to the vast Patagonia region on the border with Chile. The main focus of this tour is the famous Esquel narrow gauge line chartering the "Old Patagonian Express" steam train which will take us back 100 years in time running through many ranches where the legendary Goucho Cowboy can be seen. You will have time to explore the wonderful resort of Bariloche.
The second point of interest on this tour is the Railways of Uruguay in the Montevideo region. Of big interest is their Brill Railcars, their unique Shovel Noise GE diesels and a wonderful fleet of Alcos.
The third point of interest for this tour is the many railroad operations in and around Buenos Aires, Argentina. This city has the most daily commuter trains in all of South America.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW A VIDEO ABOUT THE
OLD PATAGONIAN EXPRESS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hhh_rXuUBAY&feature=related
DAY 1 SATURDAY NOVEMBER 5: (D) - Independent arrivals in Buenos Aires, Argentina and hotel check-in. Afternoon charter tram on the ATT system. After our charter we visit some of the passenger train stations in Buenos Aires. In the evening we will have our "Welcome to South America" dinner.
DAY 2 SUNDAY NOVEMBER 6: (CB-L) Morning visit to the Ferroclub's standard gauge museum which has quite an interesting collection of steam locomotives and former Pacific Electric motors and a Hollywood car. You will see several locomotives including a 2-6-0, 4-6-0, 4-4-0, 2-10-0 and an 0-6-0. We then board our charter pulled by one of the clubs operating steam locomotives for a run out into the countryside to Capilla and return with a stop for a classic Argenitne barbeque.
DAY 3 MONDAY NOVEMBER 7: (CB) Morning visit to some of the BA workshops. Visit the the Marplatense passenger train, which was built for the C&O Railroad's "CHESSIE" streamliner which was never put into service in the US and sold to Argentina. Afternoon Fly to Bariloche. Hotel check-in and relax.
The Classic all Budd streamliner still runs in Argentina. This train was built for the C&O's "Chessie" passenger train but was never put into service. It now operates once a week between Buenos Aires and the ocean resort of Mar Del Platta.
DAY 4 TUESDAY NOVEMBER 8: (B-L) Morning charter bus Bariloche to El Maiten, location of the main rebuilding steam workshops for the narrow gauge all steam Esquel Line, route of the Old Patagonian Express. After visiting the workshops and running shed we board our charter steam train for a run to the end of the line in Esquel. Enjoy lunch onboard a classic narrow gauge dining car. The Esquel line is on 2' 51/2" (75cm). Upon arrival in Esquel hotel check-in.
DAY 5 WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 9: (CB-L) Morning visit to the steam running shed in Esquel. We will stage the locomotives on the turntable for photos. We then board our charter mixed pulled by two steam locomotives to get our train up the steep grade out of the Esquel Valley and up to Nahual Pan. Here we turn our enignes on the wye and come back down to hill to Esquel.
DAY 6 THURSDAY NOVEMBER 10: (CB-L) Today we board our passenger train for a return journey north to El Maiten. Upon arrival here we transfer to nearby El Bolson for lodging.
DAY 7 FRIDAY NOVEMBER 11: (CB-L) We return to El Maiten to board another train pulled by steam that will take us north out of El Maiten to Norquinco and return. We then return to El Bolson for Lodging.
DAY 8 SATURDAY NOVEMBER 12: (CB-L-D) Charter steam El Maiten to Jacobacci. This is where the narrow gauge connects with the broad gauge mainline from Buenos Aires. Overnight lodging In Jacobacci. .
DAY 9 SUNDAY NOVEMBER 13: (CB-L-D) The next morning we reboard our charter steam train and head back south to El Maiten.
Just west of Jacobacci the narrow gauge line swings south heading for Esquel as the broad guage line continues west for Bariloche. Several miles of dual gauge is in operation.
DAY 10 MONDAY NOVEMBER 14: (CB) Mid morning we depart El Bolson and head north back to Bariloche. Upon arrival in Bariloche we will take you on a scenic tour of the area to view the many lakes and the spectacular Andes Mountians. After hotel check-in the rest of the afternoon free to explore this colorful town that gives you the feel of being in the Swiss Alps.
DAY 11 TUESDAY NOVEMBER 15: (B) Morning flight back to Buenos Aires. On our way to the airport in Bariloche we make a stop at the passenger train station to check it out. Mid-day arrival back in Buenos Aires with a transfer to the docks to catch an afternoon ferry to Montevideo, Uruguay and hotel check-in.
DAY 12 WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 16: (B-L) ) Visit the diesel workshops in Montevideo which has a classic collection of diesels from around the world including the rare GE Shovel Nose model and better yet, Brill railcars and a lot of classic American built Alcos. After our visit to the workshops we board a charter Brill Railcar for a ride.
DAY 13 THURSDAY NOVEMBER 17: (B-L) Today we have a charter train using a unique Shovel Nose GE diesel.
DAY 14 FRIDAY NOVEMBER 18: (B) Leisure morning in Montevideo before we catch a ferry or hydrofoil to return to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
DAY 15 SATURDAY NOVEMBER 19: (CB-L-D) Morning visit to the Ferroclub , at Escalada which is on broad gauge. Here you will see a 4-6-0, 4-6-2, 4-8-0, 0-6-0, 2-6-0, 4-10-0, 2-6-2, 2-8-0, 2-6-2T built by Baldwin, Beyer Peacock, Vulcan, Kerr & Stuart, Henschel, Nielson and Rogers. The last operating Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton Shark Nose diesel and a doubleended covered wagon built by Alsthom in Argentina, are on display here, plus railcars and a vast collection of passenger equipment. Several of the steam locomotives will be in operation for our group. The club will host a barbecue lunch for us on the museum grounds. Mid afternoon we return to our hotel. Rest of the day is yours to relax and explore Buenos Aires. In the evening we have arranged to have a "Farewell Dinner" at a local popular restaurant that has a Argentine Tango Show.
DAY 16 SUNDAY NOVEMBER 20: (CB) Flights home and end of tour.
PRICES ALL PRICES ARE PER PERSON
DOUBLE ROOM OCCUPANCY.....................$4998
SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT....................$ 998
DEPOSIT TO HOLD SPACE.....................$ 500
FINAL PAYMENT DUE BY AUGUST 5, 2011
TOUR INCLUDES
*28 MEALS
*FULLY ESCORTED
*WORKSHOP VISITS
*15 NIGHTS LODGING
*PLENTY OF PHOTO RUN-BYS
*TRACKSIDE TIME FOR PHOTOS
*SIGHTSEEING PER THE ITINERARY
*ALL DOMESTIC FLIGHTS WITHIN ARGENTINA
*10 CHARTER TRAINS USING STEAM AND DIESEL
|
Click here for Travel Insurance Information
|
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: Travel insurance is mandatory and is required, but you can opt out. The Decision to Opt-Out or Decline is Mandatory. Insurance will cover and give tour members many benefits and protection. Benefits include baggage loss, 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, pre-existing medical conditions if enrollment is within 21days of your invoice date, assault of you or your traveling companion before departure, burglary of you or your 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 your bookings. Travel insurance protects your vacation investments. 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.
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.
|
|
