| A mixed bag of locomotives and stock Motive power
As the broad gauge locomotives page has suggested, the railway originally received a dozen or so engines, presumably with the long route to Lago Nahuel Huapi in mind. These comprised (1): Number | Wheel arrangement | Weight, empty
in tons | Maker | 4 | 4-6-2 | 61.2 | Haine St. Pierre (1911) Class 12M | 2 | 4-6-2 | 61.2 | Cockerill (1910) Class 12M | 2 | 2-6-0 | 38.4 | Baldwin (1896) | 1 | 4-6-0 | 41.2 | Neilson (1890) | 1 | 4-6-0 | 45.6 | Sharp Stewart (1885) | 1 | 0-6-0 | 39.8 | Baldwin (1896) | 1 | 0-6-0 | 39.5 | Manning Wardle (1890) |
A much more comprehensive list with individual numbers, is available in an appendix page, largely from Reg Carter's lists. It is clear that a job lot of surplus second-hand engines was purchased, with the brand new pacifics being the sole exception to this. The next photo, of the opening train at Puerto Deseado passing through a triumphal arch, shows one of the 4-6-0s listed above, reputed to be no. 163. 
It rather looks as though the line was palmed off with whatever oddments could be found. Since it must soon have become apparent that the railway could be worked by two or three locos at most, it seems likely that some of the above engines never worked in Patagonia at all. Presumable the newer surplus engines were shipped back north and any older ones were scrapped. Certainly by the time enthusiasts arrived in the early 1970s there were just four Class 12m 4-6-2s, nos 350, 351, 352 and 361 (2). Railcars
Attempts were made to reduce the costs of passenger trains from a very early date. A photo exists of a locally-made four-wheeled railbus for twelve passengers. Later two Drewry railcars (operable in multiple) were brought in to operate the passenger service. These had been built in 1938 for the FC Sud suburban services in Buenos Aires province, and the FC General Roca transferred a few to Patagonia in 1951. They operated the regular passenger and mail services for the next four decades and became known throughout Patagonia as Las Chanchas (the pigs). They carried 42 passengers each. Smaller railcars built at the Puerto Madryn workshops were introduced in 1952 but it is not known how long they lasted. 
A new Drewry car poses, above, probably in Buenos Aires at somewhere like Liniers. Below, in more battered condition, is a similar car after the FC Genl. Roca took over the operation of the Patagonian lines. 
By the 1950s the original Gardner 6LW engines were getting a bit old and the local maintenance staff were begging to be allowed to buy replacement Mercedes lorry engines. However the old power plants had to struggle on until by the end they were forty years old. Passenger and freight stock
Until I find more photos of trains on these lines it is difficult to build up a clear picture. However there is no shortage of statistics, thanks to the Ministry of Public Works 1913 report () and to Rodney W. Long's report for the US Dept. of Commerce in 1926 (1). This latter was clearly intended to assist American Manufacturers who might wish to tender for the supply of equipment to the Argentinean railways. It is extremely comprehensive. However, its data was supplied by the railways themselves to a large degree and there are some inaccuracies. Passenger car list
This information is combined from the two reports mentioned above, and from stock in working timetables/appendices of 1934, 1940, 1945 & 1957. Annual statistics reports () suggest that the line had 8 passenger vehicles from 1916 to 1932, and that the numbers then varied between 9 and 8 before dropping to 6 in the early 1940s. None at all are recorded for the years between 1943 and 1952, which is surprising given that the Drewry railcars did not arrive until 1951. Type
Tipo | Maker
Marca | Numbers
Numeros | Axles
Ejes | Seats | Weight tonnes
Peso toneladas | Source
Procedencia | Notes
Observaciones | Coche motor | Talleres
1934 | 1 | 2 | 2a - 16 | 4.8 |  | | Coche motor | Talleres
1935 | 1 | 2 | 2a - 8 | 1.04 | | | Coches motor | Drewry 1938 | 63-4 | 4 | 42/39 | 20.50 | BAGSR suburban services, arrived 1951 | 'Las Chanchas'
Operating in 1957 and ’60, and to the end? | Coches motor | Tall. Pto. Madryn 1952 | 66-7 | 2 | 32 | 8.70 | | Operating in 1957 | Coche 1a | Harlan & Hollings-worth 1910 | 1? | 4 | 64 | 37.0 | New/Nuevos | $oro 13,470.00
Not recorded in 1934, ’40, ’45 or ’57. | Coche 1a | Lancaster 1888 | P111 and one other which later became R502 | 4 | 48 | 25.9 | Ex FC Andino | $oro 5,250.00 each
One converted to service car by 1924, and in use in 1940, ’45 & ’57 as 'reservado' R502 with 10 seats, 1 single sleeper and 1 double sleeper compartment. One still in 1st class service in 1945 & ’57 as no. P111. R502 now preserved in Pto. Deseado town centre 2000. P111 now preserved in hospital grounds in Rawson 2000. | Coche mixto | Harlan & Hollings-worth 1910 | M304-5 | 4 | 86 | 35.0 | New/Nuevos | $oro 10,865.00 each
One with bar and only 64 seats by 1924. In 1940 seats recorded as M304 - 1a 28 & 2a 36; M305 - 1a 32 & 2a 54. In 1934, ’40 & ’45 both in use as M304 (with bar) and M305. Both gone by 1957. | Coche 2a | Harlan & Hollings-worth 1910 | S204-5 | 4 | 106 | 35.0 | New/Nuevos | $oro 10,006.00 each.
Both in use 1934, ’40 & ’45, but both gone by 1957. | Coche 2a | Lancaster 1888 ex FC Andino | S210 and one other | 4 | 76 or 90 in 1940 | 24.4 | Ex FC Andino | $oro 3,750.00 each
One in use 1934, ’40, ’45 & ’57 as S210. One of these two recorded in 1924 as a mixto. | Furgón pasaj. | Harlan & Hollings-worth 1910 | F404 | 4 | | 33.6 | New/Nuevos | $oro 10,006.00
Operating in 1934, ’40 & ’45 as F404. In 1940 with 'cocina bar'! Gone by 1957. |
The car below is a Lancaster-built vehicle, No. R502, now preserved in Puerto Deseado town centre. 
Freight stock
The data in the table below comes from the 1913 Ministerio de Obras Publicas report () but with extra information from William R. Long's 1924 document (). Info. from 1934, 1940, 1945 & 1957 is from working timetables and appendices. 1952 info is from the 1949 tariff book update.
Tipo
Type | Maker
Marca | Quantity
Cantidad | Axles
Ejes | Weight
tonnes | Source
Procedencia | Notes
Observaciones | Plata-forma 2200 series | Nesseldorf/
Ringhoffer 1910 | 70? | 4 | Tare 12.30 Load 40 | New/Nuevos
$oro 964,70 each
| Down to 52 by 1924, but 4 other similar; only 26 running in 1924 (numbered 2230-2235, 2237-2256). In 1934 2257-68 and 2272-86 were running with open hacienda bodies. By 1940 & ’45 only nos. 2257-2262 were still in this state. Also 25 probably from this series converted in 1936 by Pto. Deseado workshops into Hacienda 2 piso wagons and running in 1945 as nos. 5700-5724. In 1940 nos. 2225-2256 were listed as plataformas without any qualification. The 1952 tariff book update mentions plataformas 2230-56, and also 2257-62 as 'con baranda' ie hacienda wagons. 5700-24 are listed in 1952 as hacienda dos pisos (5703 as 1 piso). The 1955 tariff sheets list 2231-57 as plataformas. In 1957 total down to 25 with nos. 2236, 2243 missing. | Plata-forma 700 series | Gloucester | 10 | 4 | Tare 10.90 Load
20/25 | Ex FCS $oro 700,00 each | Nos. 734-7 recorded in 1934 & ’40 as plataformas con barras/baranca para hacienda, and in 1945 as hacienda wagons. In 1952 listed as haciendas/plataformas con baranda. | Plata-forma 2400 series | Leeds Forge 1902 | 10 | 4 | Tare 14 Load 40 | Ex Pto. de la Capital $oro 1.500,00 each | All intact 1924; All 10 in hacienda use in 1934. 5 listed in 1940 as 'plataformas con barras para hacienda', ie. with barriers for carrying livestock (2435-9), & 5 (2430-2434) as just 'plataformas'; and all 10 as plain 'plataformas' in 1945, 1952, 1955 & 1957 numbered 2430-2439. | Plata-forma 2400 series | B.A.R. | 6 | 4 | Tare 10.7 or 15 Load 9, 25, or 40 dep. on source! | Ex FCS | $oro 700,00 each; Nos 2450-1, & 53 are recorded in 1934 as 'plataformas con barras para hacienda' and 2452 as 'plataforma'. None recorded in 1940 & ’45. | Plata-forma
312 series | Dyle et Bacalan | 9? | 4 | Tare 11 Load 15 | Ex Andino | Nos 312-320 recorded in 1940 & ’52. May have been from same series as Dyle et Bacalan medio cajones listed below. 313-20 still listed in 1955 tariff update. 313, 5, 7, 20 only remaining in 1957. | Bordes bajos 400 series | 'Y.V.R. y Port' whatever that might be. | 24 + 16 | 2 | Tare 5 Load 8 | Source unknown | Nos. 465 - 488 listed as out of service in 1934, and 16 more 'sin numeración' presumably never put into service. However, nos. 449-488 listed in 1940 as out of service bar nos 468, 72, 79-80 reserved for vias y obras. By 1957 20 in departmental service (425-8 for 'playa estacion Puerto Deseado', 429-31 for 'guinche', 432-44 for 'vias y obras'). | Medio cajón | Cia. Francesa
prob. Nicaise & Delcuve | 23 | 2 | Load 11 | Ex FC Andino
$oro 500,00 each | 20 running as plataformas in 1924; not recorded in 1945. It is possible that these wagons and those immediately above are one and the same batch. | Medio cajón
320 series | Dyle et Bacalan | 20 | 2 | Load 10 | Ex FC Andino
$oro 500,00 each
| 14 running as plataformas in 1924; none mentioned in 1940. in 1945 still 9 in service as numbers 320-329. Note overlap of no. 320 with series 312 plaraformas above. | Cubiertos | Dyle et Bacalan 1898 | 25 | 2 | Load 12 | Ex FC Andino
$oro 500,00 each | 23 running in 1924 plus one each as service car and caboose. Not recorded in 1934,’40 or ’45. | Cubiertos 800 series | Dyle et Bacalan 1898 | 21 | 2 | Tare 8.5 Load 10 | Ex FC Andino
$oro 500,00 each | 19 still listed in 1934, ’40, ’45 & ’52 (numbered 824-830, 832-833, 835, 837, 839-846) though 10 in departmental use and the rest out of service. In 1957 18 listed under 'vias y obras' (nos. 824-6, 8-30, 2-5, 7, 40-6). | Cubiertos 900 series | Bonnefond | 9? | 2 | Tare 7.5 Load 8 or 10 | Ex FC Andino
$oro 500,00 each | 29 running in 1924; 17 in use in 1934, ’40 & ’45 (numbered 942-953, 964-968) though 3 of these in departmental use. In 1957 only one in use - 946 for 'vias y obras'. | Cubiertos 600 series | Nesseldorf/
Ringhoffer 1910 | 10+? | 4 | Tare 16 Load 40 | New/Nuevos
$oro 1.329,70 each | 9 running in 1924; all 10 again in service in 1940, ’45 & ’52 numbered 620-629. 1955 tariff update lists 620-35 as does 1957 appendix! | Cubiertos 700 series | Gloucester | 20 | 4 | Tare 12.5 Load 20 | Ex FC Andino
$oro 700.00 each | 15 running in 1924; 10 still in service 1940, ’45 & ’52 numbered 723-732 though 725 & 727 modified for departmental use. In 1955 nos. 723-36 listed, though 727 'modificado para equipajes y encomiendas'. In 1957 all listed (without qualification) but 725 allocated to 'mecanica y traccion'. | Tanques
2220 series | Nesseldorf/
Ringhoffer 1910
(probably the builder of the later chassis, rather than the builder of the actual tanks) | 10? | 4 | Tare 19.5 & 17 Load 38 | New/Nuevos
$oro 1.848,80 each. | Two groups of five of these running in 1924, and 9 in 1934. In 1940 two groups of steel tanks were listed as 25-9 (smaller) and 30-4 (larger). 10 in total running in 1945 mounted on plataformas no. 2220-2229, including 1 used for petroleum traffic. These had been renumbered 25-9 (steel tanks), 50-2 & 54 (wooden tanks). 2220-9 still listed as tanks in 1952 (with one in use for petroleum traffic). A 1920s photo clearly shows a steel tank bearing running no. 28. It seems likely that tanks from earlier vehicles had retained their running numbers despite being transferred onto plataforma chassis. | Tanques
45xx series | 1910 builder unknown. | | 4 | Tare 23 Load 38 | | 4517-9 for water.
4526 for petroleum.
Listed first in 1955 tariffs update. In 1957 nos 4517 & 4519 listed as 'tanques para agua' and 4526 still 'para petroleo'. | Hacienda | ? | 1 | 4 | Load 40 | ? | Mentioned in early reports with no details, but probably replaced by 1945 by modified plataformas as listed below. | Hacienda 5000 or 5700 series | Nesseldorf/Ringhoffer 1910 | 25 & later 29 | | Tare 16 Load 40 | Rebuilt 1936 from plataformas by Pto. Deseado workshops | Ex 2200 series plataformas. 25 running in 1940, ’45 and 1952 as 'hacienda dos pisos' except 5703 in 1952 as '1 piso'. In 1955 & 1957 5700-28 listed with no. 5703 still as '1 piso'. | Furgon carga/Servicio
559 & ? | Dyle et Bacalan 1898 | 2 | 4 | Tare 12 Load 12 | Ex FC Andino | $oro 500.00 each. Not identifiable in 1912 list, but present in 1924; one still in 'interventor de estaciones' departmental service in 1934, ’40, ’45 & ’57 as no 559. | Furgon carga 560 | Gloucester | 1 | 4 | Tare 12.90 | | In service 1934 & ’40 but not in 1945. In 1957 listed under 'vias y obras' service. | Furgon carga 561-2 | Dyle et Bacalan 1898 | 2 | 2 | Tare 6 | Ex FC Andino | $oro 500.00. In service 1934 & ’40 (562 for Vias y Obras) but not in 1945. 561 listed again in ’57 and 562 in 'vias y obras' service. | Hand crane 21 | Evans Thornton 1908 | | 3 | Tare 30 Capacity 15 | | Present in 1957
Possibly like the one at El Maiten (see chapter 6). | Steam crane 121 | Grafton 1908 | | 2 | Tare 15 Capacity 5 | | Present in 1957 | Steam crane 122 | Grafton 1908 | | 2 | Tare 15 Capacity 5 | | Present in 1957 | Steam crane 123 | Grafton 1908 | | 2 | Tare 10 Capacity 5 | | Present in 1957 |
Inspection vehicles
In 1912 The president of the Argentine Republic, Señor Roque Saenz Paena, came to visit Puerto Deseado. The photo below, from Argentina Austral magazine, shows him travelling on the railway in an early Drewry internal combustion engined inspection trolley. 
 It seems likely that the lightweight turntables, such as that surviving in December 2000 at Fitz Roy, below, were for vehicles like that above and their successors.
By 1945 the Drewry had gone, but in its place were a home-built inspection car with a 40hp engine, and two 'zorras' by Fairmont of the USA. In 1957 three Fairmonts (nos. 21-3) were used by 'vias y obras', and two 'automovils' were listed under 'mecanica y traccion (no. 21 built Talleres Pto. Des. probably the one listed in ’45) and 'vias y obras' (no. 23, built Talleres Com. Riv.). References:
1 The railways of South America - Part 1. 1926. Rodney W. Long. US Dept. of Domestic & Overseas Commerce. Washington DC.
2 The World of South American Steam. 1974. Ken Mills and Roy Christian. Published privately, California.
3 The Railways of South America - Part 1. As above. 26-5-08 |