Chile seems to be getting a nice passenger service - using second hand rolling stock from Spain and new EMUs from CAF (they seem to be from CIVIA family, and also some Alstom stuff)-,it really looks like a very ‘European’ service, frequent and fast, with electrified ( 3 Kv, Dc) services and satisfying speed (at leat 140 kmhr,87 Mph in somesections). Here are some videos ‘vignettes’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCrNLRqZEW
More footage from Chile.This time the train that provides service fromSantiago to Temuco,a service that re-opened last May after a suspension of five years. Here’s the video (long but with nice scenes,the line seems to be quite scenic in someplaces,lotsa bridges)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqYECe44mxM
Some observations ;
In the first part of the trip, one see catenary, but apparently ‘np juice’. Anyway,it looks quite modern (comparing with some Amtrak sections). Further away,one sees the reson fordiesel traction: poles, but no wire.
The dieselengine has a very american aspect (it looks like a parent of Skagway & Whitehorse shovelnose). Its trucks seem tolook like the ones used by PAs or FD7s (export units that went to Spain’s Renfe in the 50s). Also it 'talks’with an obvious Schenectady accent (and also smokes like one).
Exception made for the sort of power car, that seems to be of american origin, all other cars in the consist are of spanish origin. After the ‘power/baggage’ cames a former Renfe autorack (modified with a cover on the upper level, this one was authorised at 160 kmhr/100 Mph in spain), then there are former ^Renfe (8,one of them is a restaurant car), built in the early 80s, originally good for 160 Kmhr, and belonging to series 10.000 in renfe, later modified from a ‘compartment’ internal layout tocoach style and upgraded to 200 Kmhr/125 Mph. In some aspects these cars, in good track ride better than Amtrak’s Amfleet’s (pneumatic suspension).
In the ‘dieselo’ part of the tip,the train seems to be quite slow.I would say between 30 and 50 Mph,maybe due to track condition and slow orders in bridges
Almost at the end of the movie,it get’s an electric engine,but the diesel is kept in the consist,and after that it seems go get intosome sort of ‘tie scorching’ mode, maybe reaching something like 75 Mph. also the electric looks like some midget NH EP4. Starng
Mario, thanks for the videos. I especially like the ALCO-GE shovelnose. (They do have ALCO prime movers, some have 251s). These were built for several countries in South America, and a version for the WP&YRR. Each order seems to differ in details.