| 1105 Terminal Way, Suite 111 | 1-800-359-4870 (USA) | |
| Reno, Nevada 89502 | 1-800 752-1836 (Canada) | |
| Phone: (530) 836-1745 | Fax: (530) 836-1748 |
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TOUR OPERATOR IN ECUADOR AND HAS OPERATED THE MOST CHARTER TRAINS OVER THE PAST 23 YEARS.
Ecuador…..last stronghold of rugged mountain railroading using steam in the Andes of South America. The famous Guayaquil & Quito Railroad now has 5 Baldwin steam locomotives in service for the enjoyment of the railfans. Two 2-6-0's and three 2-8-0's are stored Serviceable for charter work. During our week long railroad adventure we will feature 12 charters that will include mostly steam, some railcars and in some cases a diesel support train running a few minute behind our steam charter. Since it is very unclear what kind of a future any of the steam locomotives have and the fact that only very light repairs were done on these engines we strongly suggest that you Book with Trains Unlimited, Tours and enjoy the steam action now while it is good. Also the Guayaquil & Quito is the last railroad in South America that will allow railfans to ride just about anyplace they choose on our charters for the ultimate adventure and experience that you cannot get anywhere else. You can ride on the roof of the train, on the tender, in the cab and even on the steam locomotive pilot between photo run-bys. Want to try your hand at running or firing, no problem.
DAY 1 SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 8: Arrive in Guayaquil and hotel check-in. All tour members will be given a free transfer from the
Airport to the hotel. For those tour members that arrive on the mid day flights we will offer an afternoon visit to the old G&Q workshops
in Duran where our 2-6-0 steam locomotive will be fired up and ready to pull our train tomorrow.
DAY 2 SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 9: (B-L-D) We board our charter train at the Duran workshops pulled by one of the 2-6-0's for a full day excursion to Yaguachi and return. We will also have one of the railcars follow our train and we use this also for some of our photo run- bys. This section of the railroad is in the flatlands running through the farms and rice paddies. Both the steam locomotive and railcar will be turned on the wye track in Yaguachi. In the evening we will host our "Welcome to Ecuador Dinner"
DAY 3 MONDAY SEPTEMBER 10: (B-L-D) We start our day off by taking our charter motorcoaches across the flatlands to the important
railroad terminal of Bucay at the foot of the Andes. You will have plenty of time to visit the steam workshops and enjoy the many old
steam locomotives that are stored here. This was a very important terminal where all trains received one of the powerful Baldwin 2-8-0
Andes Class steam locomotives for the steep 5.7% climb into the mountains. There is still one 2-8-0 that is serviceable here and we
plan to have it fired up and running around in the yard with a string of freight cars for some photo run-bys. The rail between Yaguachi
and Bucay is out of service and the line up into the Andes just above Bucay is not in good enough condition to handle a steam locomotive.
We will then board our charter railcar and depart northbound out of Bucay and head into the massive Andes and up the rugged Chanchan
River Canyon. For the next 20 miles the railroad runs up the Chanchan River Canyon in a very remote and rugged area that has no road
access to the outside world until we reach the village of Huirga where we turn the railcar on the wye and head back down into the rugged canyon.
Overnight lodging between Huirga and Bucay. It is here where we will spend the night in a small but very delightful
hotel overlooking the village. This hotel was once the home of the general manager of the railroad and only has 20 rooms, so no singles
will be available for the next two nights. Each room has a private bath and hot water.
DAY 4 TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 11: (B-L-D) In the morning we ride our charter motorcoaches from Huigra to Alausi, a distance of 17 miles to board our next charter train. The railroad line just a few miles above Huigra is closed because of a massive mud slide. At Alausi we will have three charters for the entire day. Our charter steam train will be handled by one of the 2-8-0's , then we will have a charter railcar and a charter diesel support train. You are welcome to ride on all three during the course of the day. We board our charters and head southbound out of Alausi down the steep 5.7% grade and into the deep Chanchan River Canyon . Ten miles down the canyon is the famous Devil's Nose Switchbacks. It is here that we will spend the entire day playing with our three charters on the switchbacks for photos. We will stage every possible photo run-by, every angle and view so that you will have the chance to record this famous rail- road landmark in detail by the end of the day. Late afternoon we will head back up the mountain to Alausi and call it a day. We then return to our hotel in Huigra. 
  DAY 5 WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 12: (B-L-D) Again we return to Alausi where all three charters are waiting for us. After staging Several photo run-bys with our steam charter running down the middle of the Alausi cobblestone streets and over the massive Alausi Bridge we all board and head out of town northbound up the 5.7% grades to the top of the Chanchan River Canyon. Today we will run to the small town of Guamote which is 25 miles north of Alausi. Between Alausi and the summit of this section, at Palmira which is at 10, 623 feet we will have our charter railcar running just in front of our hard working steam train and for those railfans that would like to get the ultimate steam action you can ride on the roof of the railcar and shoot back onto our steam engine. This is some fantastic steam action that you will never forget. We then board our buses and go north on into Riobamba for lodging.
DAY 6 THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 13: (B-L-D) In the morning we return to our charter steam train and railcar at Guamote and continue our northbound trek for the 32 mile trip to Riobamba. DAY 7 FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 14: (B-L) In the morning we visit the Riobamba workshops. These shops handle most repair work for the diesels and railcars. There are two of the 2-8-0's based here. We then board our charter train using the other steam locomotive and head northbound up the spectacular "Avenue of the Volcanoes" to the highest point on the entire G&Q Railroad at Urbina which is at 11,841 feet and is on the slope of the massive 20,689 foot Chimborazo Volcano. Urbina is 27 miles north of Riobama and we will spend the entire day staging many photo run-bys. At Urbina Summit there is a wye and we will turn our steam locomotive and head back down the hill to Riobamba in the late afternoon.  DAY 8 SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 15: (B-L) Before we go to the Riobamba station we will take you to the dispatcher's offices which also houses the official Guayaquil & Quito Railroad Museum. We then go to the station and board our charter railcar and start our journey north up the "Avenue of the Volcanoes" . The entire 145 mile line is not all open and so we will be using two charter railcars today. The first charter will take us from Riobamba on up to Urbina Summit and down to the town of Mocha. Here we will transfer to our charter motorcoach and to bridge the gap where the rail has not been rebuilt. We reboard a different railcar at the Latacunga station and continue north up the slope of the active Cotopaxi Volcano and through Cotopaxi Volcano National Park. Cotopaxi is the highest active volcano in the world at 19, 335 feet. We will continue north to the Tambillo station which is 15 miles short of downtown Quito. The tracks between here and the main station at Quito are not usable. Here our charter motorcoach will take us on to our hotel in Quito. We then go to the station and board our charter railcar for the 145 mile journey up the "Avenue of the Volcanoes" to Quito and if it is clear today you will be able to see 12 snow capped volcanoes of which 6 are still active. Because of poor track conditions north of Urbina Summit we must use a railcar, as steam is not allowed. As we make our way north you will be able to see Cotopaxi , the highest active volcano in the world, at 19,335 feet.
DAY 9 SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 16: (B) For those tour members that do not have an early flight out of Quito we will offer a railroad work- shop tour where most of the old Alco diesel locomotives are stored. Everyone has a free transfer from the hotel to the airport to catch your flights home.  |
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