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The Patagonia region of Southern Argentina and Southern Chile is remote and spectacular. The scenery in the Andes on the
border with these two countries 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 in South America.
Our tour will start in Buenos Aires, Argentina and work it's way southwest by train to the vast Patagonia region on the border
with Chile. Several days will be spent on the narrow gauge Esquel line chartering the famous "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. Then we cross into Chile using the "Lakes Crossing" to Puerto Montt. At this point we turn north and head towards Santiago, Chile using a combination of charter steam trains, charter rail cars and scheduled trains. Once in Santiago our final train ride will take us onboard the new Wine Train
pulled by steam for a visit to the vineyards and wineries that Chile is famous for. The tour will then end in Santiago. This tour will cater to railfans and tourist with plenty of great railroad action, photo run-bys and workshop visits plus scenic sightseeing,
points of interest, national parks and city tours.
DAY 1 SATURDAY NOVEMBER 5: (D) All tour members will be given a free airport transfer to the hotel. Even if you decide to fly
into Buenos Aires a day or two early you will still be given this transfer. If you plan to join us for our afternoon city tour today you need
to have a flight at arrives by 10AM. Our tour will begin in the hotel lobby in downtown Buenos Aires at 1:00PM as we start off with a city tour which will include the many points of interest in the largest city in Argentina with the many monuments, plazas, parks and historic buildings. During the city tour we will spend some time in the Lacroze area visiting the historical "Compania Lacroze" street car carbarn
and then taking a ride on our charter for a run around the loop track which covers several miles. While we are in this area of the city we
will also visit the Federico Lacroze passenger station which is on standard gauge. Our city tour today will have you back at our hotel at 6:00PM so that you can freshen up and be ready for our "Welcome to South America Dinner" This will be the perfect time to get to know your fellow tour members and your Trains Unlimited, Tours guides and staff.
BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
DAY 2 SUNDAY NOVEMBER 6: (B-L-D) We have a full day in store for you visiting the two Ferroclub Argention's Railroad
Museums. First we visit the museum at Lynch, which is on standard gauge. Several steam Locomotives are based here including a 2-6-0,
4-6-0, 4-4-0, 2-10-0, and 0-6-0. At least one of them will be fired-up and in operation for your enjoyment. Also this is where the ex-
Pacific Electric motors built by Baldwin are stored. In the afternoon we go to the broad gauge museum in Escalada. 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. In the evening we have made arrange-
ments for the group to take in a wonderful "Argentine Tango Dinner Show".
YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SEE AND PHOTOGRAPH THE OLD PACIFIC ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT.
THE VAST FERROCLUB ARGENTINO'S COLLECTION
IN THE EVENING WE WILL TREAT YOU TO A CLASSIC ARGENTINE TANGO DINNER SHOW
DAY 3 MONDAY NOVEMBER 7: (B) Morning hotel check-out and tour visiting the major
passenger train stations in the city which will include the three stations at Retiro,
(Belgrano-San Martin-Mitre) and the Once station. We then go to the largest and busiest passenger station in the country which is Plaza
Constitucsion, on the 5' 6" broad gauge. Hundreds of daily passenger trains arrival and depart here. We will also be able to inspect the
Famous ex-Chesapeake & Ohio "Chissie" passenger train, now in operation in Argentina.
You will have sometime in the early afternoon to watch the many trains at the Plaza Constitucsion station before we depart onboard special reserved sleepers on the "Expresso" at 2PM.
Settle in for the Argentine transcontinental train ride across the vast Pampa to the Patagonian region on the border with Chile. Later in the early evening you can stroll to the dining car for dinner.
THE COLORFUL TRAINS IN BUENOS AIRES
DAY 4 TUESDAY NOVEMBER 8: Morning arrival in Bahia Blanca. You will have time to get off of the train and strech your
legs or take photos of the railroad action before we depart and continue our train journey heading in a southwestern direction. The rail-
road is in the process of making arrangements to extend this train from Bahia Blanca to Carmen de Patagonles where it will have a direct connection with the "Crucero Terrestre" that runs west to San Carlos de Bariloche.
DAY 5 WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 9: ( L-D))
The train arrives in Ingeniero Jacobacci early morning which is 967 miles southwest of Buenos Aires.
We transfer across the platform to our waiting charter train on the 2' 5 1/2" (75cm) narrow gauge Esquel line, pulled by one of
the 2-8-2's. Before departing you can visit the steam running shed or if you like this old Patgonia town . We will travel from Jacobacci
to El Maiten today, a distance of 148 miles. The first 10 miles out of Jacobacci is a very unique dual gauge rail line where the narrow
gauge shares the rails with the broad gauge. We will stage a couple of photo run bys where the narrow gauge splits from the broad gauge. We expect to arrive in El Maiten alittle after su nset. During this time of the year sunset is around 9:00PM and is quite spectacular from
our train. We will be serving both lunch and dinner onboard the classic narrow gauge dining car. Upon arrival in El Maiten motorcoach transfer of 37 miles to the town of El Bolson for lodging. This small resort town is located in a beautiful valley deep in the Andes.
DAY 6 THURSDAY NOVEMBER 10: (CB-L) In the morning we transfer back to El Maiten where we will take a tour of the steam locomotive rebuilding workshops , the running shed and yards. There is plenty of narrow gauge locomotives and rolling stock stored
here. The roster is made up of 11 Baldwins and 11 Henschel steam locomotives of the 2-8-2 wheel arrangement plus one Henschel 0-6-0
that was used at the El Maiten workshop and yard switcher. Today we are going to run our charter train with a different steam locomotive
and consist back northbound toNorquinco and return , a distance of 46 miles. This will give us all day to stage many photo run-bys of this
section of railroad that we traveled over after sunset yesterday. Upon arrival back in El Maiten we return to our hotel in El Bolson. Also
for those folks that would enjoy a day of exciting non railroad sightseeing we offer you an option to take you into the nearby Puelo Lake National Park where a boat ride will take you into the country of Chile deep in the Andes. National Park Option cost $45
THE NARROW GAUGE DINING CAR ON THE OLD PATAGONIA EXPRESS
DAY 7 FRIDAY NOVEMBER 11: (CB-L) Today everyone returns to El Maiten to again board our charter train to continue south-
bound to Esquel, a distance of 103 miles. Again, photo run-bys will be made as our train runs through several vast ranches where you can
see the famous Argentine Gauchos (Cowboys) on their horses riding near our train. The railroad runs through the famous Leleque Ranch
and this has now been made into a interesting museum on the history of the Patagonia and it famous ranches and the Gauchos. Our train
will stop at the main entrance to this fully operating ranch and museum to let those passengers off that would enjoy visiting this museum. Meanwhile for those folks that would like to take photos of our train we will stage several photo run-bys of our train running through this beautiful ranch while the other part of the group takes a tour. We then all board our train and continue southbound to Esquel. This is the southern terminal of the famous "Old Patagonian Express" . You will have the evening to explore the town and have dinner.
Today you have the option to ride our train or take another bus tour of one of the local spectacular National Parks. This sightseeing option will visit Los Alerces National Park which is near Esquel and on the border with Chile. National Park option cost $65.
DAY 8 SATURDAY NOVEMBER 12: (CB-L) Today you have a choice of riding our charter train or going on a spectacular sightseeing tour of the Los Alerces National Park which is located near Esquel on the border with Chile. For those folks taking the train in the morning
we will put our engine on the turntable for photos before departing town for the steep climb out of the valley. This group will ride our
Train to the station of Lepa which is 58 miles north of Esquel. Here the buses will meet the train with the sightseeing group and then
everyone will continue north to San Carlos de Bariloche. The route will take us through the massive Andes, passing many lakes, rivers, waterfalls and beautiful forests.
DAY 9 SUNDAY NOVEMBER 13: (B) You will have a leisure morning to sleep in or explore colorful Bariloche with the many shops.
In the afternoon we will offer a tour of the beautiful Lake District and the Bariloche area.
ABOVE PHOTOS OF THE BARILOCHE AREA
DAY 10 MONDAY NOVEMBER 14: (B-L) Full day "Lakes Crossing" from Bariloche , Argentina to Puerto Montt, Chile. We will
cross three lakes on our journey to the west coast of South America and through the Andes. Enjoy spectacular views of snow capped
volcanoes, emerald green lakes, rivers, waterfalls, glaciers, wildlife and much more. This entire area is called the Swiss Alps of South
America. Once we enter Chile a stop will be made in a romote mountain lodge to relax, have lunch and do some hiking before we con-
tinue on to Puerto Montt.
ABOVE PHOTOS OF THE LAKE CROSSING BETWEEN ARGENTINA AND CHILE
DAY 11 TUESDAY NOVEMBER 15: (B-L) We now start the long journey northbound towards Santiago.
Charter motorcoach Puerto Montt to Antilhue where we will board our private charter
train pulled by steam for the journey on northbound to Temuco. We plan to use steam locomotive No. 534, a 4-6-0
built by North British in 1908 for a 108 mile journey northbound from Antihue to Temuco through some of the most beautiful country-
side you have Ever seen. Enjoy pine forests, woods, mountains, active volcanoes, snow capped peaks, orchards, rivers, waterfalls, ranches, rustic Towns, and many wonderful railroad bridges of which we will stage photo run-bys. Once we arrive in Temuco we will
run our train into the large roundhouse which is two stalls short of a full circle with 17 steam locomotives stored here. We will put our
engine on the turntable for photos.
THE SPECTACULAR CHILIAN PATAGONIA REGION NORTH OF PUERTO MONTT
CHILE IS ALSO THE LAND OF ACTIVE VOLCANOS
DAY 12 WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 16: (B-L)
Morning visit to the famous Temuco Railway Museum and roundhouse where we parked our steam locomotive yesterday.
The roundhouse is two stalls short of a full circle and full of steam locomotives. The afternoon is yours to
relax and explore colorful Temuco. At 10:00PM we will depart on the TerraSur passenger train for the ride north
to Talca which is 276 miles to the north.
DAY 13 THURSDAY NOVEMBER 17: (B-L)
Arrive in Talca at 4:15AM. Sorry, this is the only train available to get from Temuco to Talca.
Upon arriving in Talca we visit the Talca-Constitucion Railroad workshops and station. This railroad is operated by unique meter gauge railcars built by Ferrostaal of
Germany, and is now considered the last true Chilean "Country Railroad" This line runs 55 miles to the seaport city of Constitucion.
This is a wonderful rail line running down the remote and scenic Maule River Valley and into the rural countryside with thick forests,
Rugged and stunning scenery, vineyards, rustic villages, and the feeling of absolute solitude. The only reason that this line has
survived is the fact that is serves an area that is virtually inaccessible by road and is a vital link to the outside world. We will board
our private charter railcar for a run to Constitucion.
THE RAILCARS ON THE TALCA-CONSTITUCION RAILROAD
DAY 14 FRIDAY NOVEMBER 18: (B-L) After a restful night in the seaport city of Consitucion we reboard our charter railcar and
start the journey back to Talca. Photo run-bys will be made each day. The railroad runs three trains daily in each direction so we will
be able to see and photograph several other regular scheduled movements. Once back in Talca we will board the late afternoon train
for the three hour ride to Santiago.
DAY 15 SATURDAY NOVEMBER 19: (B-L) We will take you on a Santiago city tour which will include riding the San Cristobol
Funicular Railroad to the grand city overlook. Also we will visit the Quinta-Normal Railroad Museum where 14 classes of Chilean
steam Locomotives are on display, the Alameda Central Passenger Station and the vast San Eugenio workshops.
THE RAILROAD YARD, DEPOT AND WORKSHOPS IN SANTIAGO HAVE
A LOT OF INTERESTING STEAM-DIESEL-ELECTRIC-RAILCARS
SANTIAGO, CHILE
DAY 16 SUNDAY NOVEMBER 20: (B-L-D) On our last full day we take you on the new "Tren del Vino" (Wine Train) for a run
to Peralillo located in the famous Chilean wine region. There will be onboard wine tasting, lunch at a luxury hotel and visits to either
a local wine cellar or the Colchagua Museum. A class 57 2-6-0 is being rebuilt to pull this train and is scheduled to enter service by
mid 2005, so we are expecting steam power today. In the evening we will host our "Farewell Dinner"
DAY 17 MONDAY NOVEMBER 21: (B) Our Patagonian Rail Adventure tour comes to a close. Remember, the tour includes
transfers from the hotel to the airport to catch your flight.
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