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Tren las Nubes - Argentine train at an altitude of 1,187 meters
Located 4,000 meters above sea level in the Andes, the Tren las Nubes, or Train to the Clouds, is one of the highest railways in the world. The train begins its journey from the town of Salta in Argentina, at an altitude of 1,187 meters, passes through Valle de Lerma, enters the Quebrada del Toro and finally ends the trip at the La Polvorilla viaduct (4,200 meters). During the 16-hour trip you will overcome 217 km and climbs to a height of 3,000 meters. The train crosses 29 bridges, 12 viaducts, 21 tunnels and runs around two giant loops. The train to the Clouds got its name from the numerous clouds that can often be seen under bridges and around the slopes.
The route was laid in the 1920s by American engineer Richard Fontaine Mori, who was in charge of the project. He designed an exceptional system, with bridges, tunnels, viaducts, spirals and zigzags. Zigzags allow the train to climb a mountain parallel to the mountainside. Mori did not use funiculars or gear wheels, which are commonly used on steep slopes, instead relying on roller coasters to climb higher altitudes.
The train to the Clouds was originally built to serve the region's mines, transporting goods from the coast of Chile through the Andes Mountains to northwestern Argentina. The route has been carrying tourists since the 1970s.
The train leaves early in the morning from the town of Salta, crosses the Lerma Valley, then the Toro Gorge and finally the large area of Pune. The train makes only two stops, almost at the end of the journey. The first is in San Antonio de los Cobres, an old town with low-constructed buildings and a tiny market. Here you will find beautiful stalls offering local crafts, clothing items and souvenirs. The second stop and end of the route is the spectacular La Polvorilla viaduct 224 meters long and 70 meters high above the valley.
The train glides through the viaduct and stops before heading off on the return trip. In the final direction, passengers can get off the train, breathe in clean and cold air, walk and take photos. The trip back to Salta is already at night.
Source: lifeglobe.net/
The route was laid in the 1920s by American engineer Richard Fontaine Mori, who was in charge of the project. He designed an exceptional system, with bridges, tunnels, viaducts, spirals and zigzags. Zigzags allow the train to climb a mountain parallel to the mountainside. Mori did not use funiculars or gear wheels, which are commonly used on steep slopes, instead relying on roller coasters to climb higher altitudes.
The train to the Clouds was originally built to serve the region's mines, transporting goods from the coast of Chile through the Andes Mountains to northwestern Argentina. The route has been carrying tourists since the 1970s.
The train leaves early in the morning from the town of Salta, crosses the Lerma Valley, then the Toro Gorge and finally the large area of Pune. The train makes only two stops, almost at the end of the journey. The first is in San Antonio de los Cobres, an old town with low-constructed buildings and a tiny market. Here you will find beautiful stalls offering local crafts, clothing items and souvenirs. The second stop and end of the route is the spectacular La Polvorilla viaduct 224 meters long and 70 meters high above the valley.
The train glides through the viaduct and stops before heading off on the return trip. In the final direction, passengers can get off the train, breathe in clean and cold air, walk and take photos. The trip back to Salta is already at night.
Source: lifeglobe.net/