THE author has compiled a superb set of images from his travels in South America in the 1960s, mainly looking for steam but fortunately not ignoring the more modern (but now largely vanished) early diesel and electric locos.
The book starts, alphabetically, in Argentina, with two early English Electric diesels appearing in the first images, although steam from multiple British and international builders predominates the next pages, divided into five chapters. Bolivia and Brazil feature in the next five chapters, with one depicting the amazing funicular operation of the broad-gauge line to the port of Santos, which used steam locos as well as the funicular cable! The line still exists but was converted to the slightly more conventional Abt rack system by 1982. Chile, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay follow, with pictures of steam in action in all the countries, although by the late 1960s, modern American-built diesels were already common in Peru and Uruguay. Some excellent colour pictures of these locos when relatively new are included, as are very rare pictures of Swiss-built electric locos at work on the sadly now-closed line over the Andes between Santiago, Chile and Mendoza in Argentina.
The author has selected a wide range of images to show the huge variety of railways and locos he found on his travels over five decades ago. Some are ‘record’ shots of locos on shed, but others are classic period shots showing the scenery, contemporary traffic and local people. These are accompanied by informative and detailed captions which include information about the history of the railway companies and locos depicted, plus the author’s travels. Anyone who has ever visited the railways in South America will find this book fascinating, as will anyone interested in railway scenes that have, just like in the UK or Europe, changed almost beyond recognition since the 1960s. Highly recommended.
KF