PeruTren

This railway had its beginning with Law number 667 in November, 1907. Originally it was designed to reach Castrovirreyna and Ayacucho. The first studies were carried out under the direction of Carlos Weber. Work began the same year, using funds from the State tobacco monopoly, but construction proceeded very slowly and was suspended in 1910 after 20 km of grading and 8 kilometres of rails had been completed.

On 2 September, 1910, Charles B. Eddy signed a contract with Government for construction from the point where it had been detained. No work was carried out for many years under the new contract. Work was resumed by the Government itself in 1918.

It is called the “Tough Train” because “its leaves when it wants and arrives when it can”. It is one of the only railways that still belongs to the State. It is 148 km long and has a gauge of 0.914 mm. The first 77 km were opened for traffic in 1926 and the rest in 1933. Some kilometres of route were constructed towards Castrovirreyna and Ayacucho but were later abandoned.

Minister Celestino Manchego Munoz decided to deviate the route to Huancavelica to stimulate the zone. Rolling stock: 3 Baldwin 2-6-0 locomotives #101, 102, 103 built between 1921 and 1924 used for fast services, one Baldwin 2-8-2 ‘Presidente Leguia’ from 1927, and one Henschel 2-8-2 #104 from 1950. Other locomotives were acquired and later transferred to the Cuzco - Santa Ana. In addition, the railway owned railcars built by International and Wickham. Stations: Chicla, Telleria, Izcuchaca, La Mejorada, Acoria, Yauli and Huancavlica. Workshops: Huancayo.

Statistics:

Altitude: supposedly this railway would have been the highest in Peru and the world surpassing the Central of 4,080 metres, because the section to Castrovirreyna which was never constructed, would have reached 4,960 metres.
Gradient: 3.5%
Curves: maximum of 80 metres
Ballast: gravel and crushed stone
Ties (sleepers): 2 metres spaced (1.7 x 0.7 metres)
Rails: 50 pounds to the yard
Fuel: initially coal, now diesel
Bridges: 15
Tunnels: 38 between 20 and 152 metres in length

LOCOMOTIVES SINCE 1926

No. Type Make Factory No. Year

101 2 6 0 Baldwin 57796 6/24 ex #1, #32,
102 2 6 0 Baldwin 54261 1/21 ex #2
103 2 6 0 Baldwin 54262 1/21 ex #3
104 2 8 2 Henschel 26483 1951 ex #11
105 2 8 2 Henschel 26484 1951 ex #12, to FC Cuzco-Santa Ana #105, #122
106 2 8 2 Baldwin 60101 8/27 ex #6
107 2 8 0 Hunslet 1795 1936 ex FC Trujillo #30, #22, restored
108 2 8 0 Hunslet 3413 1947 ex FC Trujillo #31
109 2 8 2 Henschel 26403 1950 ex FC Lima Lurin #12
Diesel:
431 Diesel electric C-C 1200 Hp Alco 84667 8/63 DL 543B ex FC Central regauged to 914mm
432 C EL D/Electric C-C
433 to 435 D/Electrica C-C MLW M6078 01 03 9/74 ###