Tourist trains in Argentina – old locomotives and wagons.
Travelling by old train is a charming way to experience and see Argentina. I am not referring to long distance trains but old time trains. These restored locomotives tell a story about the times of the pioneers and their glory. It is impossible not to be transformed back into time where locomotive trains played a very important role in the lives of these pioneers. It is a transformation back into the Wild West era.
There are different train routes in Argentina and each one is unique. Let´s have a look at the most important tourist trains here in Argentina.
The end of the world train – Ushuaia.
Tierra del Fuego is the southernmost National Park on the planet. Some people call it the End of the World and that is where this train got its name from. Tierra del Fuego is 11kms outside of Ushuaia and many travellers take a half-day tour from here to visit the National Park. The train takes you past some of the most beautiful scenery – lakes, lagoons, rivers. You will pass through Mt Susana and arrive at the Old Prison.
Why is this tourist train of historical importance?
Prisoners built this railway and it was used to transport timber. Today it operates solely as a heritage train.
Company: Ferrocarril Austral Fueguino.
Station: Fin del Mundo Station.
Historical steam train – Rió Negro.
The Tren Histórico as it is called, runs from San Carlos de Bariloche, to the Los Juncos lagoon. This train dates back to 1912 and has been restored to it´s original state. It consist of 5 wagons and a locomotive.
The train leaves from the Bariloche Station on a 40 km journey all the way to the Los Juncos station. It is a full day excursion where you can enjoy a traditional Argentine asado or BBQ. The tour includes a walk to the Los Juncos Lake and Elephant Hill.
Tren a las nubes – Train to the clouds.
The train to the Clouds is a magnificent engineering bridge that reaches almost 4,200 meters into the sky. You could reach out and touch the sky….almost. It leaves from Salta city and runs 200 km through Valle de Lerma.
Old Patagonia express – “La Trochita”.
This nostalgic locomotive with only 2 wagons, takes travellers on a journey from Esquel to Nahuel Pan or El Maiten. On this journey you will be bale to see vast landscapes of Patagonia. It is an experience like non-other. It is fitted with an original stove and it looks like something from the Wild West.
If you love reading then I suggest you get hold of the book: The Old Patagonian Express: By Train Through the Americas by Paul Theroux. La Trochita was made famous in this book.
The Coast Train or Tren de la Costa.
The Coast Train is one of the tourist trains that travels through the north of the city of Buenos Aires all the way to the Delta. Many Porteños take this train when they want to escape from the busy city and it comes highly recommended.
Travellers are always looking for something different. Taking a trip on one of these beautiful old tourist trains, will stay etched in your memory, long after your trip to Argentina has come to an end.
