Train travel clouds
The most amazing train in the world departs from Salta Argentina, which reaches to the clouds at 4,200 meters in a distance of 217 km to the viaduct La Polvorilla. Its name refers to the large number of clouds that often often seen under bridges or on the slopes of the mountains that accompany the incredible journey.
It is one of the three highest trains in the world that crosses vertiginous mountains of the Andes between spectacular scenery. Part of the city of Salta and crosses the valley of Lerma to enter the Quebrada del Toro, reaching the magical Puna.
The amount of curl, viaducts, tunnels and other convolutions that runs the train because the author of the project, the US engineer Richard Maury, took party taking into account the principle of adhesion of train wheels on the tracks and the laws of physics, discarding the mechanical rack system commonly used for railway formations can reach the expected heights. No cogwheels, not even for the steepest parts of the climb, because the tracks are arranged in a peculiar way running through a system of zigzags and spirals.
The train leaves from the city of Salta to 1,187 meters above sea level and ends his tour in the Viaduct missed Polvorilla, the highlight of the trip, where it stops to appreciate the majesty of this engineering work in the mountains.
recommendations
It is advisable to book tickets in advance due to high demand. The Train to the Clouds does not operate during the summer months (rainy season). It is recommended to wear warm clothing, light dinner the night before and a good pre-break to enjoy one of the most amazing tourist experiences offered Salta.
History
This ferroturístico venture, now world renowned, born at the initiative of the General Belgrano Railway authorities who, in November 1971, resolve to run an experimental train with officials and journalists.
On July 16, 1972 the first official tourist trip is done, it will be maintained for 18 years until 1990, when the state railways are privatized. From 1991 to 2014 the tourism project “Train to the Clouds” salteños remains in the hands of private capital. In July 2014 Governor Dr. Juan Manuel Urtubey society decided to create the state to SFTSE Train Clouds to provide a service under standards of quality and security.
According to journalist and writer Luis Borelli, the name “Train to the Clouds” is due to a color film made by two cameramen tucumanos in the 60s before exploitation turística- made the stretch Salta / Socompa on board of the train. When they reached the viaduct La Polvorilla, the machine made a side discharge steam, consequently low temperature of the place, did not dissipate quickly and hung for a moment in the air puneño. The work was offered to railway and then gave it to Clarin newspaper journalist Emilio Petcoff, so did the script for the documentary. The reporter, observing the filming, was attracted by the steam that embraced the machine Polvorilla and that work titled “Train to the Clouds”. Subsequently, Ferrocarriles Argentinos adopted this name for the single railway tourism project that had the country at the time, that ran 217 km from Ramal C14.
Services on board
Reception and welcome in the central hall of the station Salta by the staff of the Train to the Clouds, breakfast and snack included infusion of coca leaves courtesy, specialized guides, language assistance, medical services and monitoring via road, support informative audio and video, bar and restaurant.
