Friends of the Rail Forum

Recently restored, this train runs through Chile's Atacama desert. The scenery looks amazing and this train has to be a "must do" if visiting that part of the world.

The transformation of a couple of scrap coaches and loco into things of beauty is amazing, right down to adding clerestory roofs. The finish and quality of the interiors is sensational and very "Spanish". A model for us to follow. The loco looks distinctly ex-SAR but, then again, I think many of these types were built for metre and 1065 gauge railways elsewhere too.

See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XLMSHYgkls to witness the transformation and visit Richard Mancilla's photosite at:
http://www.trenesenlaweb.tk/ to see pics of his trip on that train.

Thanks my friend. the Transatacama Express, is a really awesome proyect. the loco is a G.E. U12c. number 302, is the last locomotive in chile without modifications. was built in 1961. the two cars was built in the 60´s as well. the journey take 4 hours departing in Iquique ( noth of Chile ) then, this train goes to the most dry and beautifull desert in America ( atacama desert ) if you want to know about this fantastic journey visit http://www.transatacama.com
Kind regards my friend
Richard Mancilla Mena
http://www.trenesenlaweb.tk
Chile

well. here the video about the first transatacama express journey

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHWnXmhs3Ns

regards
Richard mancilla
www.trenesenlaweb.tk

Richard

The scuttlebutt from Antofagasta and Coquimbo is that TransAtacama is bleeding money, can it survive this Summer?

In the last week 302 (Dt-12002) was towed back to Baquedano with a failed prime mover, do you know how terminal the damage? Is Ferronor contractually liable to provide a replacement locomotive?

If 321/322/323 are to be hired to COMSA de Chile SA at Arica, Ferronor will be acutely short of motive power at Baquedano, do you know if they plan to return any of the GR12's from Llanta?

There is also a rumour of a Baquedano rebuild numbered 349, do you have any knowledge?

Looks like an impressive operation, I just don't like that colour...

I don't know how long they will be able to operate as the fare looks quite stiff.
...............Nacionales......Internacionales
Clasic.......$85.000..........USD 168
Premium....$115.000........USD 226

Chile Regions I and II are mining areas, Chile seems to be similar to Australia with a 2 speed economy

Boom with a wages blow-out in mining areas. with shortages of artisans and skilled labour. In the last month there have been job ads in the Santiago papers for locomotive drivers for Region I, and locomotive mechanics and electricians for the SQM mine railway at Tocopilla/Maria Elena, about 250km south of Iquique.

I was in Antofagasta/Calama last April, stayed at the same hotels as the Caterlillar/Komatsu/Liebherr techreps. It costs between US$160 and 240 night for a midrange motel /hotel room in this region, so I don't think that the rail fare for a 12 hour fully catered day trip, including hotel pick up/drop off, and a bus trip to a historic mine site is excessive.

R1680 will get you from Cape Town to Johannesburg with the Premiere classe train (1600km, 26h, 5 course meals all incl).

That seems quite steep for just a hotel/motel room, do you get value for your money? I thought South Africa was expensive

With the A$ close to parity with the US$, a room of a similar standard at the Mercure or the Menzies in Sydney is around the $300 mark

Currently the Chilean weekly minimum wage for unskilled labour is US$255, though this figure is at least doubled in the mining regions, plus annual bonuses. BHP-Escondida on October 13th, agreed to a 2010 bonus of US$26,000. So you can see that Northern Chile is no longer a cheap place to do business

The 32 day strike at Xtrata/Anglo American's JV at Collahuasi finished on the 7th, the miners settled for a bonus of US$25,168 http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2010 ... e-tuesday/

So with bonuses mine labourers wages are in the US$50k range, plus the usual on-costs of medical, messing, busing etc.

Very interesting.

Totally away from the railway and seeing as you seem to be knowledgeable about the situation:

What role did the unions have to play in this matter?
The miners might be smiling very broadly because they are earning a nice sum of money and that they can now probably care for their families better.
How is this situation influencing the inflation, surely this increased spending results in less availability of produce and higher prices for the whole population, making the increased wages irrelevant?

If you are interested in the economics
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Chile
http://www.chile-usa.org/laborrelations.htm
http://www.xstrata.com/assets/pdf/x_spe ... _boaml.pdf

Australia has a similar problem
http://www.treasury.gov.au/documents/14 ... conomy.htm