The construction of the 'Trocha económica' towards Esquel

Most of these photos were found in Historia de los Ferrocarriles Argentinos, published by the FCE in 1947 to mark the forthcoming nationalisation of all Argentina's railways.

A temporary track and a four-wheeled skip. It would be interesting to know whether such temporary railways were of the final 75cm gauge or of the 60cm more commonly used in construction works.

An embankment, almost complete, though it looks as though the permanent track has still to be laid.

Excavating a cutting alongside the Rio Chico. Two lines of temporary track have been laid to assist in the removal of spoil.

The tunnel near Cerro Mesa, presumably near the end of its construction since the portal appears to be almost complete. This is the only tunnel on the line.

A Henschel on a temporary trestle bridge.

A concrete pier being constructed for the 20m high bridge over the Arroyo Mayoco.

It is easy to forget that the line was not finished until 1945. By then concrete was in common use for civil engineering works. The photo on the left shows a culvert being constructed in reinforced concrete. The rail height is presumably somewhere up near the beam crossing the void at the top of the picture.

In the Memoria for 1942, was this view of a temporary bridge and a diminutive railcar. (1)

Also included in this report was this picture of the temporary works for the construction of the big Río Chico bridge is included.

In the following year, the annual Memoria for 1943 illustrates another temporary bridge and a goods motor trolley. (2)

Source

1 MOP [Ministerio de Obras Públicas], Ferrocarriles del Estado, Departmento Ingeniero Principal, Memoria Anual, 1942 found in archive of Museo Nacional Ferroviario Raul Scalabrini Ortiz, Buenos Aires.

2 MOP [Ministerio de Obras Públicas], Ferrocarriles del Estado, Departmento Ingeniero Principal, Memoria Anual, 1943 found in archive of Museo Nacional Ferroviario Raul Scalabrini Ortiz, Buenos Aires.

23-2-2018