The Other Spot

The Trochita is the colloquial name is known in the Old Patagonian Express, thanks to its super economical gauge of 75 inches wide and a separation between the rails of only 0.75 cm. Even today passes the 400 miles of its journey guided by a steam locomotive of 1922.

The Trochita born after the war, time of economic crisis which led to the choice of a trail so narrow. The original idea was to make a great tendency to cross and reach Patagonia Puerto Madryn, but by economic and climatic reasons the project floundered. The laying of the tracks began in Jacobacci Engineer, and in 1941 reached the town of El Maitén. Four years later came to the city of Esquel. In 1993 the branch was closed by the national state, but reopened a year later by a decision of the provincial governments.

Transformed into a tourist service, the train has a bar car service, heated Salamanders wagons with wood stoves and assistance of professional guides. The engines used are brand Baldwin (manufactured in the U.S.) and Henschel (German origin). The machine speed can reach 60 mph, but due to the characteristics of the tracks, the maximum speed used is 45 km / h.

Currently the Trochita performs two regular services tourist Esquel Esquel-Nahuel Pan-and-Diversion The Maitén Thomae-The Maitén. The first track runs 19.6 km from the Patagonian steppe, with photo stops and reaching Nahuel Pan, where they hope Mapuche community members offered their handicrafts to tourists and local products. The second part of the tour Maitén, hosting the railway workshops and a museum, until the detour is named in memory of an engineer who was starring in the construction of the branch. The total distance is 26.4 km.

The Trochita was declared National Historic Monument in 1999, following a proposal promoted by the National Commission for Museums and Monuments and Sites. As we have been narrating in LocuraViajes, Patagonia Argentina offers numerous dreamy landscapes: El Bolson, Villa Quila Quina, Ushuaia and many other sites are a must for all nature lovers. Traverse some of the Patagonian landscape aboard a steam train adorable early twentieth century, is undoubtedly a fascinating experience.