Author

Title

Date

Publisher

Remarks

ALLEN, Peter

On the Old Lines – Locomotives Around the World

1957

Cleaver-Hume Press, 185pp

Contains travel notes and black and white photos of locomotives in Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Peru.

BENNETT, Paul

Pickled Passengers, the Sentinel-Cammell narrow-gauge railcars

c. 2012

Narrow Gauge Railway Society, 85pp

The story of these extraordinary vehicles and their use on many railways including in Brazil and Peru, with technical details, contemporary photos and a works list.

BINNS, Donald (Editor)

South and Central American Special

1993

Locomotives International, 90pp

This volume brings together a set of articles by various authors, describing and illustrating (b & w) the details and operation of the locomotives on several railways, as follows: Steam in Paraguay and Uruguay, 1992, by Günter Koch; Brazilian Narrow Gauge in Minas, 1980, by Fred Harman; Santiago’s Railway Museum – the Story of Some of its Locomotives, by Ian Thomson; Steam in Argentina, 1992; by Günter Koch; The Donna Thereza Christina Railway, by the Editor.

BINNS, Donald & Koch, Günter

Meyer Articulated Locomotives – The Definitive History

1997

Trackside Publications, 110pp

A comprehensive work about Meyer locomotives and some close related examples of the type, illustrated by examples from railways in Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Colombia.

BINNS, Donald

Fairlie Articulated Locomotives, Volume 1 – The Americas

2001

Trackside Publications, 98pp

Describes and illustrates the locomotives used in the nitrate railways of Chile and Peru, as well as Uruguay, Brazil and Venezuela.

BLAKEMORE, Harold & SMITH, Clifford T. (Editors)

Latin America – Geographical Perspectives

1971

Methuen & Co Ltd, 600pp

This contains six chapters on South American countries: Venezuela and Colombia, The Guianas, The Central Andes, Brazil, The River Plate Countries, and Chile. There are five main aspects of the text: general, agriculture, industry, communications (including railways), and welfare. Much of the information remains useful today and sharpens the difficulties which climate change will lead to.

BLEASDALE, William

Rails Over the Andes

2007

Athena Press, 145pp

This describes railway travels through Peru, Colombia and Ecuador, with an emphasis on scenery and local people as well as railway details. There are 64 photos (b&w) over 32 pages, half of which are railway illustrations.

CARTER, Brian (Editor)

Railways of the World 29 – Paraguay, Chile and Uruguay

1994

The World of Trains Part 106, Eaglemoss Publications Ltd

A short article on the railways in three South American countries, with sketchy maps and some interesting photos.

CHRISTIAN, Roy & MILLS, Ken

South American Steam

1970

Published by the authors, 74pp

There are chapters with introductions, detailed photo captions and locomotive rosters for all the South American countries which have railways. The authors also describe their experiences of the lines they travelled on.

FARLEY, Sarah (Editor)

Railways of the World 36 – North-west South America

1994

The World of Trains Part 120, Eaglemoss Publications Ltd

A short article about the railways in Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia, with a map and some photos.

FARRINGTON, S. Kip, Jr

Railroading Around the World

1955

; Coward-McCann, Inc., 230pp

The book starts with a set of seven of the main railway countries in South America (Colombia not included), over 46 pages. Sadly, no maps, but there is a table of British – U.S.A railway terms and a one-page English-Spanish railroad dictionary! Photos are in b&w and include an amazing view of the double switchback on the Central of Peru Railway at Viso.

FAWCETT, Brian

Railways of the Andes

1963, Second Edition,1997

Plateway Press, 324pp

The Andes range of mountains extends over 4000 miles parallel to the Pacific coast of South America, with peaks rising to over 20,000ft and mountain passes reaching about 10,000ft. This outstanding book describes how ingenious railway engineers were able to construct railways crossing the Andes, from the Transandine between Argentina and Chile north to the Guayaquil & Quito in Ecuador, with many maps and b & w photos.

FAWCETT, Brian

Steam in the Andes – a Pictorial Survey;

1973

D. Bradford Barton Ltd, 112pp,

With a map and gradient profile, and b & w photographs with descriptive captions of locomotives and railway structures on all the principal Andean lines.

FINCH, M. Henry J.

South American Steam – a pictorial survey

1974

Bradford Barton, 135 black-and-white photos taken by the author over 96 pages

This is said to be the first pictorial survey to be published in Britain on South American railways as a whole. About 40 pages are on the Argentine railways (Roca-BAGS, Urquiza standard gauge, Belgrano-metre gauge, and Rio Turbio-75cm gauge), and the remainder cover Bolivia, Brasil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay. Guyana and Venezuela are not mentioned, so not quite the whole!

GARRATT, Colin

Around the World in Search of Steam

1987

David & Charles,

Chapter 9, Adventures in Latin America, has 17 pages of text and photographs of steam locos in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Chile (mostly b & w).

HAINE, E.A.

Railways Across the Andes;

1980/1

Pruett Publishing Co., 258pp

This book covers the advent, development and application of railways in Peru, Northern Chile, Bolivia and Ecuador, including the FCAB, Arica – La Paz, Antofagasta – Salta and the Chilean Transandine. Maps and charts are a feature, and sepia illustrations which include some locomotives and rolling stock. There are 6 Appendices and a good Bibliography.

HALSEY, Frederic Magie

Railway Expansion in Latin America

1916

Moody Magazine and Book Company, 170pp

This a recent reproduction of the 1916 book by the author. It covers several countries in South America, including Argentina, Chile and Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, the Guianas, Uruguay and Paraguay. The reproduction is carelessly bad, only one of the four maps listed is present, and the illustrations are of very poor quality.

HALL, Tony (Editor)

Amazing Train Journeys

October 2018

Lonely Planet, 304 pages

Contains short articles (text and photos) on The Old Patagonian Express (La Trochita) in Argentina; and Peru-Rail’s Lake Titicaca Railway and Lima to Huancavelica via Huancayo line, in Peru

R. & W. HAWTHORN LESLIE & Co. Ltd

A Memorial Issue Celebrating the Opening of the Newcastle & Carlisle Railway in 1835

The Locomotive Magazine, 19pp

A collection of 19 ex-works photographs of Hawthorne Leslie locomotives constructed for 19 different countries, including six in South America. All the captions and other texts are in Portuguese.

HOLLAND, Julian

Great Railways of the World

2008

AA Publishing, 224pp

The south American section amounts to about 20 pages, covering Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay and Peru. The text was written by the author, who selected the photographs from Milepost 92½-railphotolibrary.com. The Bolivian steam loco illustrations are the most interesting.

JOY, David

Engines that Bend – Narrow Gauge Articulated Locomotives

2012

Atlantic Publishers, 128pp

Provides a readable overview of articulated locomotives and answers many questions about them. Illustrates several articulated locos in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile and Colombia, including Garratts, Kitson-Meyers and Shays.

KINGTON, Miles

Three Miles High

1981

Book Club Associates/BBC

This article is one of the contributions to the book Great Railway Journeys of the World. It describes travelling from La Paz in Bolivia, via Quaqui, Puno, Cuzco, Machu Picchu, Huancavelica and Huancayo to Lima in Peru on the then existing railway lines. The text is 25 pages, there is a map of the route, and the 11 photographs include four in colour.

The Fascinating Train to the Clouds is also covered in More Great Railway Journeys, a collection of pieces published by BBC Books in 1996 and Penguin Books in 1997.

KIRBUS, Federico B.

El Fascinante Tren a las Nubes, y otros ferrocarrriles de montaña

1993

Editorial El Ateneo

Mainly covers, in Spanish, the various railways crossing the Andes from Argentina to Chile, but also describes mountain railways in Bolivia, Chile and Peru.

LONG, W. Rodney

Railways of South America, Volume 2

1930

US Dept. of Commerce

Detailed information about the railway systems in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela

McCALL, Iain & CATCHPOLE, Paul (Editors)

Locomotives International @ 100

2016

Locos International

Includes “End of Steam at Rio Turbio” (Koch); “Rio Turbio Resurrection” (McMahon); “Ecuador 1991 – Up and Down the Devil’s Nose” (Andrews)

NAVÉ, Harald

Alaska-Feuerland

1986

Avanti Verlag, 160pp, in German

Just over half the book is about the railways of South American countries, including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, with an emphasis on the railways which cross the Andes range. No detailed maps, but a wide range of excellent photographs of scenes connected to all aspects of the railways.

O’DELL, Andrew C. & RICHARDS, Peter S.

Railways and Geography

1956

Hutchinson & Co, London, 248pp

The authors show how railways are influenced by the geography in which they are constructed and operated. Most South American railways are discussed, in terms of water and fuel supplies, Andean constraints, goods carried and suburban passenger networks.

PEARSON, J.P.

Railway and Scenery

1932

; Cassell, Series I – Pre-war Journeys (3 Vols.)

A copy of the title page, pages vii-xxi and 1187-1255 from Journey 67, which covers visits to Argentina and Chile.

PORTWAY, Christopher

The Great Railway Adventure

1983, reprinted 1984

Oxford Illustrated Press

The last chapter (of 9) is entitled Trans-Andes, Lima-Cuzco-Guayaquil-Quito-San Lorenzo (18pp), but also briefly describes all the railways involved in crossings of the Andes, and in South America in general. Map and three colour photos.

RAILWAY GAZETTE

Special numbers on South American Railways

1926 and 1949

Reviews of the present position and development programmes of the railways in countries in South America, with several maps and many photographs.

ROWE, D. Trevor

The railways of South America

2000

Paul Catchpole Ltd (Locomotives International)

The first comprehensive book on the development and operation of all the main railways in South America in the Twentieth Century.

SNELL, John B.

Mixed Gauges – travels in the years of steam

2007

Camden Miniature Steam Services

Chapter 14 in this book, entitled Skimming the Andes, covers, in text and photos, the Andean lines in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, after a visit in 1981.

St. AUBIN de TERÁN, Lisa

Great Railway Journeys – Santos to Santa Cruz

1994

BBC Books

The journey starts in the Atlantic port of Santos in Brazil and ends in the town of Santa Cruz at the foothills of the Bolivian Altiplano, passing through the famous large pantanal (swamp) on the way, and involved changing trains several times. There is not much railway hardware in this story, but de Terán has much to say about the history and every-day events of the lines she travels along, as well as the scenery and people on the way. There is a map of the route as well as several very good photographs.

STRICKLAND, Keith

Steam Railways Around the World

1991

Wrens Park Publishing, 150pp

A ten-page chapter on South America describes his visits and steam locomotive photography in Brazil, Chile and Peru

STRICKLAND, Keith

Steam Through Five Continents

1998

Wrens Park Publishing, 150pp

A 32-page chapter on South America covers the author’s later trip, in 1992, to Paraguay, Uruguay (valuable because rarely visited), and also Argentina, where he visits the Rio Turbio (RFIRT) line and the Esquel Branch from Ingeniero Jacobacci (the Old Patagonian Express).

THOMSON-NEWMAN, Ian

Railways of Yesteryear – South America

2019

Mainline & Maritime, Locomotives International Imprint

Describes his experiences of railway travel for business and pleasure in South America and how it has changed over the years.

WADE-MATHEWS, Max

Great Railway Journeys

1998, reprinted in 2000

Southwater, an Imprint of Anness Publishing Ltd

Contains two-page articles and photos of journeys in Brazil (Santos to São Paulo), Argentina (Santa Rosa de los Andes to Las Cuevas), Paraguay (Asunción to Encarnación), Perú (Juliaca to Cuzco) and Ecuador (Guayaquil to Quito).

WAITE, James

Narrow Gauge in the Americas

2020

Mainline and Maritime Ltd

Contains 27 pages of locomotive photographs with informative captions, from Colombia, Brazil and Argentina.

WALKER, Christopher

Railways of Latin America in Historic Postcards

December 1997

Trackside Publications, 80pp

This historically interesting book contains over 180 mainly black-and white postcard illustrations and a map, covering all the countries of South and Central America, the Caribbean and the West Indies which have or had railways.

WHITEHOUSE, Patrick B. & ALLEN, Peter

Round the World on the Narrow Guage

1966

Ian Allan Ltd

Contains 15 pages of text and photos (b&w) about narrow-gauge lines and locos in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia.

WHITEHOUSE, Patrick & ALLEN, Peter

Narrow Gauge the World Over

1976

Ian Allan Ltd

The section on South America includes 16 pages of b&w illustrations (different from those in the previous entry) of railway scenes (mainly steam locomotives) in Argentina, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Brazil.

Author

Title

Date

Publisher

Remarks

BLAKEMORE, Harold

From the Pacific to La Paz – The Antofagasta and Bolivia Railway Company 1888 – 1988

1990

Antofagasta Holdings PLC and Lester Crook Academic Publishing, 334pp

The author, a historian and geographer (he is also listed in the General sub-section above), was asked to write the centenary history of the Antofagasta & Bolivia Railway Company, which had a vast amount of valuable source material.

GRAHAM, Jerry

The Pulacayo Mine and Railway (Bolivia)

1998

Jerry Graham Publishing, 28pp

A short history and guide, with sketch maps and other drawings.

JACOBS, Michael

Ghost Train Through the Andes – On my Grandfather’s Trail in Chile and Bolivia

2006, p/b edition 2007

John Murray Publishers, 309pp

The Author’s grandfather worked as a civil engineer on the Antofagasta & Bolivia Railway from 1910 to 1914, and this book describes Jacobs retracing his ancestor’s travels on the line in Chile and Bolivia about a hundred years later. He managed to go by train from Antofagasta to Oruro, but had to take a bus on to La Paz, and walk parts of the line to Cochabamba.

TURNER, J.M. & ELLIS, R.F.

The Antofagasta & Bolivia Railway – The Story of the FCAB and its Locomotives

1992

Locomotives International Narrow Gauge Special, 77pp

History and development of the line. Excellent maps and a gradient profile, many photos (b&w) and line drawings of locos, loco lists and useful appendices.

WALKER, Christopher & BINNS, Donald

Railways of Bolivia – Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock

2006

Trackside Publications, 128pp

In their Introduction, the authors state; “we consider the railways actually built, under construction, projected and abandoned, also industrial lines where known”. The main lines featured include the Arica – La Paz, the Southern of Peru, the Antofagasta & Bolivia and the Eastern Network. There are several maps and gradient profiles, many excellent photographs (b&w and colour), loco and bridge line drawings, and several useful appendices.

Author

Title

Date

Publisher

Remarks

BEYER PEACOCK GROUP

Group Brochure

c. 1955

12pp

In Portuguese. Describes the famous Dom Luiz 2-2-2 locomotive built in 1863 for the Southeastern Railway of Portugal; two Beyer-Garratt locomotives, for the Benguela and Luanda Railways; and introduces the coming of HYMEK locomotives in the future.

British Insulated Callender’s Construction Co. Ltd

Railway Electrification

February 1955

CARTER, Reg (Compiler)

Railways of Brazil – Alphabetical Listing, Parts 1 to 4

2002-4

The Continental Railway Circle

This is a listing of the public railways of Brazil and their motive power, mainly steam. Brief details of each railway is followed by a list of their locomotives. There are no illustrations.

CATCHPOLE, Paul

A very British Railway

2003

Locomotives International

A description of the history and operation of the São Paulo Railway in Brazil.

COELHO, Eduardo J.J

Locomotivas articuladas as gigantes da era do vapor no Brasil (Brazilian Articulated Steam Locomotives)

2003

Memoria do Trem

In Portuguese, but the Introduction and illustration captions are translated into English.

COELHO, Eduardo J.J. & João Bosco SETTI, Joâo Bosco

A Estrada Ferro (EF) Vitória a Minas e suas locomotivas desde 1904, Volume 1 (The Vitória to Minas Railway and its locomotives from 1904, Volume 1)

2000

Memoria do Trem

Its history and locomotives (mainly steam), with translated captions; when published, Volume 2 will describe its diesel locomotives.

Da SILVA TELLES, Pedro C., Translated by WATERS, Paul E.

A History of Brazilian Railways, Part 1 – The First Railways

1984

P.E. Waters & Associates, Consulting Engineers, 70pp

The history of the first eight railways, with introductory and final chapters discussing the need for railways in Brazil and their economic and social influence. Maps, and some b & w photos.

de CASTRO, José Emílio & BUZELIN, Horta

Carros Budd no Brasil – 1, os trens que marcaram época

2002

Memória do Trem

This is the history of the Budd cars and rail diesel cars which worked on the Central of Brazil railway from 1950-1998. There is a 5-page English summary in an appendix, and the captions of the many illustrations are also translated. Future volumes were promised to cover Budd cars working on other Brazilian railways.

de CASTRO, José Emílio, BUZELIN, & SETTI, João Bosco

Ferrovia Centro-Atlântica, Uma Ferrovia e suas Raizes

2001

Memória do Trem

This is the history of the Central-Atantic Railway of Brazil and its diesel motive power development. In effect this is in part the second volume of the previously listed book, with a summary and the captions translated into English as before.

de CASTRO, José Emílio, BUZELIN, Horta, Eduardo José de Jesus COELHO, Eduardo José de Jesus & SETTI, Joâo Bosco

A Ferrovia de Minas, Rio and São Paulo

2002

Memória do Trem

This is the history and motive power development of the MRS Logística S.A. Railway, which took over the lines involved after their privatisation in 1996. A third volume in the series, with an appendix and photo captions in English as before.

DURRANT, A.E.

A “New” Garratt

Summer 1989

Continental Railway Journal, No.78, pp144/5

Describes a previously unknown 2-6-0+0-6-2 Mallet locomotive that worked on the metre-gauge Bragantina branch of the São Railway. It had been built in the Lapa workshop of the line during WW2, by cannibalising two broad-gauge 0-4-0 ST locos. Drawings of both the old and new engines, and the only known photo of the new one at Lapa.

EDMUNSON, William

The Great Western of Brazil Railway

2016

Mainline and Maritime

This railway, initially built and operated by a British-owned company, ran from Recife in the State of Pernambuco and spread out into the surrounding States.

English Electric Co. Ltd

Main Line Electrification in Brazil

c.1955

See also “British Insulated” above.

João Emilio GERODETTI, João Emilio & CORNEJO, Carlos

Railways of Brazil in Postcards and Souvenir Albums

2005

Solaris Cultural Publications, São Paulo

A large collection of postcard and photo album illustrations, many in colour, covering almost all of the railways in Brazil during the late 19th and well into the 20th Century. The numerous notes and captions are in English.

GUIA LEVI

Levi Guidebook

January 1974

Contains details of all national train and bus services, together with maps and lists of street and locality names for all the areas served by railways and buses in Brazil. In Portuguese.

HAHMANN, Carlhienz & S. SMALL, Charles

Brazilian Steam Album Plus & Minus Two-Footers, Volumes I to IV

1985

Railhead Publications

In English. The Railways are briefly described, with maps and track diagrams, to give context to the photos. “Plus & Minus” means that the railway gauges range from below 2ft up to 2ft 6in and even metre gauge.

HAND, Victor & EDMONSON, Harold

Trains – Steam and Diesel Locomotives Around the World

1974, reprinted by Galley Press in 1988

Octopus Books Limited

Contains a chapter entitled “Andean Spectacular” about the Belgrano Railway in Northern Argentina, and another entitled “Coal for the Mills of Volta Redonda” about the Estrada de Ferro Dona Teresa Cristina in Brazil.

HANSON, Terence C.

A Railway Engineer in Brazil

1989

Excalibur Press of London

This is the story of Hanson’s life and work in North-East Brazil for thirty-two years, from 1927 to 1959, as a Railway Engineer on the Great Western of Brazil Railway and the North Eastern Region of Brazilian Federal Railways.

HARMAN, Fred W.

Rails Through the Amazon

1980

Century Locoprints

Histories of the Maderia-Mamoré, Brangança, Tocantins and Amapá Railways in Brazil. Contains a good range of maps, photos, and locomotive lists.

JONES, K. Westcott

Hoisted up the Serra

1964

In Great Railway Journeys of the World, Alvin Redman Ltd

A short chapter and four b & w photographs on the line of the Santos to São Paulo railway in Brazil.

KINGSFORD-SMITH, Robert (Compiler and Author)

Dona Teresa Cristina – The Ten-coupled Titans of Tubarão

1999

In Famous Last Lines 2, CADECO

This 22-page chapter by the Compiler consists of an introductory text followed by some very fine photographs of the Titans: 2-10-2, 2-10-4 and 2-8-2 North American steam locomotives operating on the Estrada de Ferro Dona Cristina Tubarão, a metre-gauge southern Brazilian railway located near the Atlantic coast.

KOCH, Günter, KRAUSE, Günter & Murray, Martin

Deutsche Lokomotiven in Brasilien (German Locomotives in Brazil)

2016

Published in German by DGEG, 274pp

An amazing book, containing comprehensive details of all the locomotives manufactured in Germany which ended up in Brazil, captured in explanatory texts, many captioned photos, lists, tables, maps and references.

MORRISON, Allen

The Tramways of Brazil – a 130-year Survey

1989

Bonde Press, 197pp

Contains nine chapters, including a general history of the tramways in Brazil; gauges, rolling stock, current collection, traffic direction; descriptions of each system; and three chapters on bibliographies and indices of cities, persons and topics.

STIEL, Waldemar Corrêa

História do Transporte Urbano no Brasil

1984

EBTU and PINI

In Portuguese. This is a history of urban transport (trams, buses, trolleybuses and local railways) commissioned by the Brazilian Urban Transport Company (EBTU) and edited by PINI Ltda. Some illustrations also have brief English captions.

UK Trade & and Investment Railway Sector

Fact Finding Mission to Argentina & Brazil, Part II – Brazil

October 2009

Produced by Bob Docherty, 69pp

This Report, which followed from a visit to Brazil, was written to provide UK companies with an insight into the railway market in Brazil.

WAITE, James

Narrow Gauge in the Americas

2020

Mainline and Maritime Ltd

This book has 25 pages of very good photographs with detailed captions of South American locos and trains, mainly in Brazil, but also Colombia and Argentina.

WATERS, Paul E.

The Donna Thereza Cristina Railway

1985

P.E. Waters & Associates, Consulting Engineers

This line was originally of British construction, but later it reverted to Brazilian ownership. The railway, its history and the associated coalfield are described, together with its locomotives and rolling stock. Many photos (b&w), maps and an appendix.

WATERS, Paul E.

West of Minas Narrow Gauge, with Maps by Edwin Lambert

2001

Paul E. Waters & Associates, Consulting Engineers

The history, description and equipment of the 2ft6in gauge section of the Oeste de Minas railway. Many photographs (b&w), maps, gradient profiles, track plans and 16 appendices.

Author

Title

Date

Publisher

Remarks

BINNS, Donald

The Anglo-Chilean Nitrate & Railway Company (Ferrocarril de Tocopillaal al Toco)

1995

Trackside Publications, 78pp

Describes the history of the company, its steam and diesel motive power, electrification of the first section of the mainline, and other topics, with maps and gradient profiles, and many photos, mostly b & w.

BINNS, Donald &. MIDDLETON, Harold A.

The Taltal Railway – A Chilean Mineral Line

2010

Trackside Publications, 64pp

A detailed description of the history and operation of the mine and its railway. Several maps and many photographs (b&w), and locomotive and rolling stock lists.

BLAKEMORE, Harold

From the Pacific to La Paz – The Antofagasta and Bolivia Railway Company 1888 – 1988

1990

Antofogasta Holdings PLC and Lester Crook Academic Publishing, 334pp

The author, a historian and geographer (he is also listed in the General sub-section above), was asked to write the centenary history of the Antofagasta &. Bolivia Railway Company, which had a large archive of valuable sources.

COOMBS, Martin & SINCLAIR, David

Railways at the End of the World – In Patagonia and the South Atlantic Islands

2014

The Araucaria Press, Cumbria, UK

The author, a historian and geographer (he is also listed in the General sub-section above), was asked to write the centenary history of the Antofagasta &. Bolivia Railway Company, which had a large archive of valuable sources.

CUTHBERT, Guillermo Burgos

Ferrocarril de Valparaiso a Santiago y Ramal a Los Andes

c. 2020

Ricaaventura Editorial, Second Edition in Spanish with illustration captions also in English, 98pp

This book is essentially a large set of magnificent sepia photos taken in 1863 with brief captions in Spanish and English, the subject being the railway from Valparaiso to Santiago (that was the direction of construction), and its branch to Los Andes. There is a historical introduction, and an extract from Don Vicuña Mackenna’s account of his travels along the line in 1863.

JACOBS, Michael

Ghost Train Through the Andes – On my Grandfather’s Trail in Chile and Bolivia

2006, p/b edition 2007

John Murray Publishers, 309pp

The Author’s grandfather worked as a civil engineer on the Antofagasta &. Bolivia Railway from 1910 to 1914, and this book describes Jacobs retracing his ancestor’s travels on the line in Chile and Bolivia about a hundred years later. He managed to go by train from Antofagasta to Oruro, but had to take a bus on to La Paz, and walk parts of the line to Cochabamba.

JONES, Kenneth Westcott

Romantic Railway

1971

Arlington Books

The author has travelled on railways in many countries in several continents, and devotes two chapters to the Chilean Longitudinal Railway and the Trans-Andine Railway from Chile to Argentina. No maps and few photos.

LLOYD, William

Description of the Santiago and Valparaiso Railway

1864

Proceedings Inst. Civil Engrs., Vol. XVI, p327

Covers the origins and description of the line, and especially the Tabon Incline, followed by remarks on resistances from railway curves and on the design of steam locomotives with regard to coal quality

LONG, W. Rodney

Railways of South America, Part 3 : Chile

1930

U.S. Department of Commerce

Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, Transportation Division, Trade Promotion Series – No. 93. A very detailed compilation of all aspects of the railways in Chile, including a long chapter on all existing and planned border crossings to Argentina.

MORRISON, Allen

The Tramways of Chile 1858 – 1978

1992

Bonde Press, New York

Introduction, general history, description of each tram system, many maps, and profusely illustrated (b & w).

OSSA GATICA, Juan Enrique

Memoria Annual 1975-1976 Ferrocarril del Estado-Chile

December 1977

Chilean State Railway, 35pp

This is the Annual Report for 1975-1976 of the State Railways, listing financial, staff, passenger, cargo and equipment statistics, and new work and equipment. A few photos and many tables of information, but no maps.

SIMMS, Wilfrid F.

The Railways of Chile – Volumes I to V

Btween 1999 and 2002

Published by the Author at Gadd’s Printers, Worthing, UK, approx. 350pp in total

The author travelled all over Chile to obtain these first-hand reports on the state of its railways, from 1978 onwards, during which the railways were operated by a State Company, the Empresa de los Ferrocarriles del Estado de Chile (FFCCE). Vol I covers Northern Chile, La Calera-Copiapo. Vol II, Northern Chile, Chanaral-Antofagasta. Vol III, Northern Chile, Tocopilla-Arica. Vol IV, Central Chile. Vol V, Southern Chile. Historical details, maps, lists and details of locos and rolling stock, and many b & w photos, almost all by the author.

South American Centre, Inst. of Locomotive Engrs.

Visit to Chile 1931

September 1931

Journal of the I.L.E., pp795-823

Having arrived by train from Buenos Aires (BAPR, TAR), Members of the Centre visited: the Chilean State Railways in Santiago, Valparaiso and Viña del Mar, reported by A. Cresswell (Centre Hon. Sec.); the “El Teniente” Mine of the Braden Copper Co., reported by C.W. Ridge (Central Argentine Rlwy) and others; and Concepción, Iota and San Rosendo, reported by E. Balzarini (Central Argentine Rlwy).

THOMSON, Ian

Red Norte – The Story of the State-Owned Railways in the North of Chile

1997

Locomotives International, 130pp

A detailed description of all aspects of the northern lines in Chile, including those which had started as privately-owned lines but later reverted to the state. Maps, tables, lists, many photographs (b&w except for the front and back covers). I am grateful for a nice comment from Ray Schofield: that the Kitson-Meyer loco type was originally devised by Robert Stirling (son of Patrick Stirling) when he was Locomotive Superintendent of the Anglo-Chilean Nitrate and Railway Co. and then taken up by Kitson &. Co. of Leeds. The book has also been translated into Spanish by the Author.

TURNER, J.M. &. ELLIS, R.F.

The Antofagasta &. Bolivia Railway – The Story of the FCAB and its Locomotives

1992

Locomotives International Narrow Gauge Special

History and development of the line in Chile and Bolivia. Excellent maps and a gradient profile, many photos (b &. w) and line drawings of locos, loco lists and useful appendices.

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ARIAS DE GREIFF, Gustavo

La Mula de Hierro

1986

Carlos Valencia Editores, 136pp

This book, written in Spanish and titled The Iron Mule, describes the impact of the steam locomotive on the then pastoral country of Colombia. It consists of a brief Introduction followed by five chapters and a bibliography. Chapter I shows how the steam engine developed the railways and the country. Chapter II is a chronology of the railways. Chapters III and IV introduces and illustrates Colombian steam locomotives, respectively. Chapter V is an illustrated catalogue of all the clearly identifiable Colombian locomotive classes; here the author acknowledges the help of P.C. Dewhurst and his son Peter K. Dewhurst. There are several maps and gradient profiles, tables, drawings and graphs, and the illustrations are a mixture of photographs (b&w) and watercolours painted by the author.

ARIAS DE GREIFF, Gustavo (Editor) &. DEWHURST, Peter K. (Colaborator)

La Segunda Mula de Hierro – The Second Iron Mule

2006

Published by the Author and Colaborator, 373pp

This revised and enlarged book is similar in concept and structure to the previous version but now includes diesel and electric locomotives. The captions of all illustrations are now in both Spanish and English, but the texts remain in Spanish.

DEWHURST, Peter C.

Practical Considerations in Locomotive Design for Overseas Service

1930

Journal of the Inst. of Loco. Engineers, pp888-917

The author is concerned about designing steam locomotives for use on “difficult” overseas railways, where difficult means lines with gradients of 1 in 33 to 25, curves of about 3 chains (about 60 metres), are narrow gauge, and require the burning of poor (soft) coal.

Ferrocarriles Nacionales de Colombia

Los Ferrocarriles en Cifras

Noviembre 1971

48pp

In Spanish. Maps, tables and a range of statistics and financial information about the Colombian railways, their locomotives, rolling stock, passenger and cargo services, etc.

WALKER, Christopher

Narrow Gauge in Colombia - Railways and Steam Locomotives

2005

Trackside Publications, 96pp

The geography of Colombia makes railway construction very difficult, because the northern end of the Andes splits into three north-south ranges. In fact, its first railway was the 5ft-gauge Panama Railroad, in what was then the Province of Panama in Colombia, which in 1903 became a separate country. This book concentrates on the history and operation of the Colombian narrow-gauge public railways, with maps and gradient profiles, locomotive lists and designs details, and many b &. w illustrations (except for the front and back covers), including some postcard reproductions.

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McCALL, Iain &. CATCHPOLE, Paul (Editors)

Locomotives International @ 100

2016

Locos International

Includes “End of Steam at Rio Turbio” (Koch); “Rio Turbio Resurrection” (McMahon); “Ecuador 1991 – Up and Down the Devil’s Nose” (Andrews).

MENESES JURADO, Marcelo and VINUEZA GARCĺA, Jorge

Tren al Sol – Train to the Sun

2006

Ecuador Adventure, 130pp

In both Spanish and English, this book describes all aspects of the construction and operation of the Ecuadorian railway from Guayaquil to Quito: the impossible dream up into the clouds, the steam locomotives, the most difficult terrain in the world, stations and water towers, life on the train. Maps and gradient profiles, many excellent photographs, texts and captions in both languages.

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BINNS, Donald

The Central Railway of Peru and the Cerro de Pasco Railway

1976

Trackside Publications, 84pp

History and operation of these railways. Maps, gradients, locomotives and rolling stock, railcars, many b &. w photos.

ENAFER Peru

Itinerario de Trenes – Ferrocarril del sur

1976

Timetable of the Southern Railway of Peru, together with details of each line and passenger and cargo rolling stock, map and gradient profiles.

SMALL, C.S.

Far Wheels – A Railroad Safari

1959

Cleaver-Hume Press (London) &. Simmons Boardman Publishing (New York)

Has a 12-page Chapter on the Author’s personal experience of travelling regularly, high in the Peruvian Sierra, on the Huancayo and Huancavelica Railway.

STEPHENSON, Trevor H.

Peruvian Trams and Railways – An Illustrated History

1995

Minerva Press, 199pp

About a quarter of the book is on Peru’s tramways and the then projected Lima metro. The rest of the book covers the State and private railways, as well as five projected lines, of which only one ever ran. Maps and b&w photographs of steam and Diesel locos as well as railway structures, stations, etc.

THOMSON, Ian

The Dieselization of the Central Railway of Peru

2003

A 6-page article in Diesels &. Electrics, Locomotives Internation Special Edition No.1

Describes the history of the railway’s transition from steam to diesel-electric locomotives, and the problems caused by the very high altitude of the line.

WHETHAM, Robert D.

Railways of Peru, Volume 1 – The Northern Lines and Volume 2 – The Central and Southern Lines

2007 and 2008

Trackside Publications, 95 and 96pp

History and operation of Peruvian lines, maps, loco and rolling stock lists, mostly b&w photos, some in colour.

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WICHERTS, Eric

The Railway of Suriname – The “LANDSSPOORWEG” 1902 – 2002

2004

Published in Calgary, Canada by Private Railway Consultants, 73pp

Suriname is now an independent country, but was formerly a Dutch colony. The describes and illustrates the history, construction and operation, of the last colonial railway built in the Americas. Maps, gradient profile, loco and rolling stock plans, and many photographs.

DEW, Lee A.

The Railroads of Aruba and Curaçao

1977

Publishers Wyt, Rotterdam, 108pp

Describes the narrow-gauge mining and industrial railways on these Antillian Islands just off the northern shore of South America. Maps and b&w photographs. Both the text and photos are in Dutch and English.

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BEADON, Glen &. DARSLEY, Roger

The Railways of Trinidad – From agricultural innovation to national network

2022

Mainline and Maritime, 224pp

The history, construction and operation of the railways and tramways in Trinidad, including the early Cicero Tramway and its extensions; the Government Railway; the sugar cane railways; and other lines. Many maps, station and town plans, timetables, tickets, financial tables, and locomotive and rolling stock lists. Very well illustrated, in b &. w and colour.

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GASTÓN, Díaz

La financiación pública del ferrocarril Uruguayo, 1869-1913

23-25 November 2011

Paper presented at the Conference Quintas Jornadas de Investigación, Montevideo, of the Uruguayan Economic History Association

A paper (one of several by the same author) on the economic history of the railways in Uruguay.

MATTHEWS, Freddy and FINCH, Henry

Central Uruguay Railway in the 1930s and 1940s (until Nationalization) and The Train Now Leaving Montevideo…

1988

British Uruguayan Society

Two short articles on the railways in Uruguay, the first by the manager of one of the railways, the second by a visitor to Montevideo when possibly the last train left its Central Station in 1988, as the railways fell out of use.

NAHUM, Benjamín

Nacionalización de Empresas Británicas de Servicios Públicos – 1947-49

2005

Universidad de la República, Montevideo

The nationalisation of the private British railway companies in Uruguay during the period after WW2.

WINN, Peter

Inglaterra y la Tierra Purpúrea – Gran Bretaña y Uruguay en el siglo XIX, Vols 1 &. 2

1998 &. Ediciones de la Banda Oriental, Montevideo, 2010

Universidad de la República, Montevideo

Volume 1 has the subtitle In Search of the Economic Empire, 1806-1880, and Volume 2 has the subtitle Boom, Bust and the Economic Empire, 1880-1903. Both Volumes describe and discuss the railways in Uruguay.

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BAKER, Allan C.

The Bolivar Railway and the Aroa Copper Mines

2022

Industrial Railway Society

The author tells the story of the first public railway in Venezuela, conceived and operated by British engineers and managers, using rails, structures, locos and rolling stock imported from distant Britain, in the face of great problems caused by climate, terrain, politics and funding. Interwoven into the story is the history of the Aroa copper mines, the reason why the railway was built. The book contains a detailed cornucopia of all relevant aspects of all the railways and mines and is extensively illustrated in b &. w and colour.

CARRUTHERS, John

The Trincheras Steep Incline on the Puerto Cabello and Valencia Railway, Venezuela

29th January 1889

Paper presented to the Institution of Civil Engineers

Text together with maps and gradient profiles.