Merry Christmas: Steam Rivived in Paraguay
bras...@despammed.com
Merry Christmas!
Especially to steam fans, who have had to watch the decline of the last
major steam operator in the Americas - Cuba - as rumors and facts of
modernization surround that country. How long steam will really last
there is anyone's guess.
One small candle of hope burns in the darkness, though.
For some years, Paraguay has had the only 100% steam locomotive equipped
railway system. The line closed, for the most part, in 1999 so that it
could be privitized along with the telephone company and the water works.
Thus, the title meant nothing for some years, as there was no operation of
any sort.
In 2002, a 30 day general strike convinced the senate to revoke the
controversial Privitization Law.
Hope appeared completely gone when the magazine Latin Tracks Digest
reported in March 2002 the railway was experiencing significant
dismantling, with rails being sold to a Brazilian scrap metals dealer.
Over the past week word arrived from Paraguay that operations are
definitely resuming, with interchane of freight into Argentina. Maybe not
"revived", as few locomotives are even close to operable, but at least
something appears to be happening. Traffic in and out of the country is
now being handled by diesels from Argentina, with steam meeting diesel
midway on the international bridge between Argentina and Paraguay.
The locomotives in service - perhaps as many as four - are the last that
are at least capable of moving a few cars and performing what local
switching is needed. I admit, it is not much, but enough to perhaps once
again give Paraguay the title of being the last remaining nation with 100%
steam locomotive operation. There is even some talk of a tourist service
starting.
http://dialspace.dial.pipex.com/steam/internat.htm
Select Option "Paraguayan renaissance? (updated 23rd December 2003)" on
the list on the right. The page can take a LONG time to load. There is
one photo of one of the locomotives, with links to more.
Perhaps the best news, however, is for the people of Paraguay, who have
had to suffer enough without the economies of railroad transportation and
interchange to the outside world.
--
-Glenn Laubaugh
Personal Web Site: http://users.easystreet.com/glennl