Motor Trollies
A journey along the Transandino del Sur by virtue of the fibre of railwaymen
As far as can be conveyed in words, the experience of this unique experiment, which despite being a dreamers’ (as they had decided to call themselves) project, is and has been an historic landmark – as they called it in Chile – when they were received by the mayor of Talcahuano (Chile) and the Governor of Bio-Bio.
This project, which was started more than 70 years ago, followed and driven at that time by Domingo Pronsato and recorded in his book of the 1940s El desafío de la Patagonia (The Challenge of Patagonia) was to link the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific by way of the Transandino railway. *
* It was Domingo Fernández Beschetdt, Administrator General of the State Railways, with gentlemen from and around Bahía Blanca (Argentina), that the formation of the Comisión Pro Ferrocarril Transandino del Sur de Bahía Blanca (Commission for the Bahía Blanca Southern Trans Andean Railway), was set up with the task of investigating and designing the project. This resulted in the great Congreso Transandino en Junio y Julio de 1957 (Tans Andean Congress of June and July 1957) which took place in Bahía Blanca.
Because they confirmed that expression could be given by deeds to the ideas of some visionaries.
Because this journey is far more than being an excursion, a hobby, or a modern-day trip made by some mad romantics.
This journey shows that the reality of the country’s railways was and is important for economic, social and even political growth. The linking of these poles and ports such as are the cities of Bahía Blanca and Talcahuano, would allow the commercial interchange of Chile with Europe and of Argentina with the Asiatic countries. In addition, there would be the cultural, social, tourist, economic, etc interplay.
The reflection which this historic journey merits is that it can…
Yes! the ports can be linked. Iván, César and others who undertook this challenge showed that they can be.
That the railway can be and is a driver which must be reactivated by the development of our towns and which has not ceased to be an important inheritance for many people.
They left Bahía Blanca one day in February 2007 and after almost ten days of travelling Argentine and Chilean lines reached their goal. The prior negotiations took almost six months, getting permissions, visas, insurance, etc.
These dreamers showed that only the political will is lacking to join these short, but long, 100 kilometres from the Argentine side, where the railhead is dead, very close to Zapala, in the middle of the Patagonia plateau, where they took one of the last photos, thus completing the first Argentine objective.
In front of them – the post card – the Andes, immense, snow-capped and with a low embankment that marks the continuation of the line, which has still to be built, to link us to the Chilean nation.
There the motor trollies were put on a lorry and crossed the Andes by road. Having found the Chilean railhead, which had been constructed as far as the international frontier, they re-boarded their small machines. From there everything was easier, except for the protocols required by the various Chilean authorities, in reality very different from Iván and César’s thinking about formal meals, timetables, the press and honorary awards…
They are toilers of the railway, but they carry in their blood the noise of the iron, the smell of the metal, the air on their faces, hands, dirty from work, but full of hope. In front of them, thousands of kilometres of track, of sleepers, the work of railwaymen, of dreams, of banter, of the future and above their shoulders, Argentine and Chilean flags flying.
I must to say that Iván is an engine driver and from a railway family. Likewise, César – born in a station – but devoted to the rails, putting his hand to the old metals, all greasy and oiled, arranged as they should be. This reminds me of the smells in my Dad’s workshop, where one spent hours rummaging among rare things…
They entered, and we entered some time later, in an initiation of the FISA (Fair of the Production, Work, Commerce and Services of the South Argentine) - in part sponsors of their journey - in Bahía Blanca and in the presence of the Governor himself of the Province of Bio-Bio (Chile) starting-off the event. He called these great dreamers ambassadors for their country under the amazed graze the local politicians.
“One is not a prophet in one’s own land” – I don’t know who said that – but it touched my heart, and never so certain…
They were able to show that those visionaries were not so mad; that it is possible; that the spirit of the railway is as intact nowadays as in those times; that it, today, can be an important cog in development; that the policies and the politicians must go along with the dreams of the people; to the mad-men, who at times, want to demonstrate with deeds, the ideas, the dreams, the prowess and the future. This inheritance is not for sale.
Thanks to Iván Juárez and César Guilllen for undertaking this journey on behalf of us all, for we believe it is not just about money, but also about dreams, to give heart and for this little grain of sand which fills the sea of inaction of so many.
To those to whom it is lost, it doesn’t matter, they will return to share their experience, their dreams. And among them return to install the second line in the old Sauce Grande station, sorry, Sierra de la Ventana, so that the next visit will be a meeting of motor trollies to honour their enjoyment and share the 100 years of our locality and 150 years of railways in Argentina.
For the Amigos de la Trochita SV (Friends of the Sierra de la Ventana Narrow Gauge Railway), we let them know that we continue to walk the narrow way, that we advance as Iván and César, following our dream to Utopia.
Mary Acebo
Tourist Guide
Acknowledgements:
La Asociación de Amigos de la Trochita SV (The Friends of the Trochita SV Association) thank all those who still dream of the railway, Autoservicio Melin, Pieres Electricidad, Todo Jardín, Radio FM 96.9 UN VAGON DE SUEÑOS, Nilda Dicrocce, Surveyor, and to Richard Matus, its mentor.
Bibliography:
El desafío de la Patagonia, Domingo Pronsato
La primera gran empresa de los Argentinos (1854 – 1862), Schvarzer – Gómez
Recommended Film
Corazón de Fuego (Heart of Fire) – Luppi & others (So as to not get lost) The Inheritance is not for sale
Web Site of the journey