PeruTren

This railway beaks all records: it is the only international line we have and is the oldest that is still in place since it was the second one to be constructed here in 1856 when Arica was still in Peru and governed by don Ramon Castilla. It is the most historic of all because of the glorious events it has witnessed and finally, it is one of the railways that still belongs to the State. We could say that this train is more of a national monument than a railway. Although it is of very limited use, it does not appear that it will be abandoned or privatized. When Enafer was created, it came under their administration. Later it was transferred to Enapu and currently it is administered by the Regional Government of Tacna. It is 62 km long and has a gauge of 1.455 mm. Its initiation was authorized by a law adopted on 16 December, 1851. The contact was approved on 6 August 1852 and construction was handed over to John Hegan, the solicitor being Luca de la Lama.

The concession was granted for a term of 99 years when it would become property of the State free of encumbrances. Among other things, the contract gave permission to “import” 400 Chinese, use standard gauge, establish maximum tariffs, and give authority for the contractor to transfer his rights to a third party, without any authority whatsoever to transfer them to a foreign government. Furthermore, the Government granted Hegan an advance of two million Peruvian pesos at an annual rate of interest of 4.5% which Hegan was required to reimburse within three years. The first train made a return trip on 25 December, 1855 but regular services began in 1856 with five locomotives. Traffic opened officially on 1 January 1857 beginning the term for the 99 year concession. On 15 June 1859 the Government ordered freight charges and fares to be cut in half to stimulate a growth in traffic because the low volumes being recorded did not cover expenses. In 1869, President Balta ordered studies to be made for an extension to La Paz, Bolivia, a project which was never carried out. Had the line been it built it would have helped for the transport of troops during the war. On 11 July 1876, the Government issued regulations for this line.

The railway was constructed as The Arica & Tacna Railway Company, or Empresa del Ferrocarril Tacna - Arica FCTA, as it was also known. The company was formed in London on 28 September 1853, the Government having approved the transfer of rights from Hegan on 23 May 1857. When the war came, Tacna and Arica came under Chilean control. On 26 June 1883 the Chilean commander of the occupation of Tacna issued a decree stating that the contract between Hegan and the Peruvian Government was completely valid for the Government of Chile. The decree was ratified by the Chilean Minister of the Interior on 26 July of the same year.

During this period, changes to the line were attempted. First, plans were made in 1904 to use it for a line from Arica to La Paz. The proposal was to extend it to the east from Tacna with a total development of 498 km to carry it to the capital of Bolivia. Then an attempt was made to extend it 278 km south from Arica to Zapiga and connect it to the Chilean railway network. The provisional nature under which Chile occupied the territory made it necessary to reject these ideas. The Arica - La Paz railway was built through the Lluta Valley in 1913. The treaty of 1909 established the boundary between Peru and Chile on the basis of the Arica - La Paz alignment. Article 7 of the same treaty recognized the rights of Peru with respect to the FCTA. In 1942, before its imminent closure, was administered by the Government. Afterwards, it reverted to the State becoming the absolute property of the Peruvian Government. The Tacna - Arica Railways Company was dissolved in July, 1944. Since then, the Chilean section of the railway on the Arica side has also remained as Peruvian property. The railway workshops which were originally located in Arica, were relocated to Tacna.

Stations include: Tacna km 42, Hospicio, Escritos, Chacalluta and Arica.
Rolling stock (steam locomotives): Some of the locomotives that once operated the train are kept in the railway museum in Tacna.
No. Tipo Fabricante Año / Serie
FTCA # 1 4-4-0 R&W Hawthorn 1853 869
FTCA # 2 4-4-0 R&W Hawthorn 1853 870
FTCA # 3 4-4-0 R&W Hawthorn 1853 871
FTCA # 4 4-4-0 R&W Hawthorn 1853 872
FTCA # 5 4-4-0 R&W Hawthorn 1853 873
FTCA Morro 2-6-0 Rogers 1868 ?
FTCA Tacora 2-6-0 Rogers 1868 ?
FTCA # 1 4-4-0 Hawthorn 1869 1465
FTCA # 2 4-4-0 Hawthorn 1869 1466
FTCA # 3 0-4-0T Hawthorn 1869 1480
FTCA # 3* 4-4-0 Hawthorn 1875 ?
FTCA # 4 4-4-0 Hawthorn 1872 1545
FTCA # 5 4-4-0 Hawthorn 1872 1546
FTCA # s/n 0-6-0ST B. Hawthorn 1883 705
FTCA # 6 2-6-0 Hawthorn Leslie 1885 2021
* On display at Tacna

In the 20 Century the following engines were added:
No. Tipo Fabricante Año / Serie
FTCA # 7 0-4-0 Kerr Stuart 1911 ?
FTCA # 8 0-4-0 Kerr Stuart 1911 ?
FTCA # 9 2-6-0 Alco Rogers 1908 Ex Ilo-Moquegua #1 Pardo (museum)
FTCA # 93 2-8-0 Alco 1908 Ex FC. del Sur # 93 (museum)
FTCA # 1 2-4-0 Baldwin 1908 Ex Ilo-Moquegua #3 Pacocha (museum)
FTCA #2 2-6-0 Baldwin 1908 Ex Ilo-Moquegua #2 Moquegua (museum)
FTCA # 300 * C-C Alco Diesel 1958 Ex FC del Sur # 300
* Única actualmente en uso.

Some vehicles were made locally, and in 1939 there were 11 railcars, some built by the German firm Linke Hoffman in 1908. English built Sentinel railcar #257 is currently in use.

Statistics

Grade: Maximum 3.8% from Magollo to Tacna.
Rails: 60 pounds per yard
Ties (sleepers): quebracho wood with dimensions 6”x 8”x 8’
Curves: maximum curvature 100
Bridges:

Railway Museum

The station in Tacna located at the corner of 2 de Mayo and Albarracin streets, functions as the Railway Museum of Peru. It has a collection of valuable pieces that belonged to various railways in the country. Most important is locomotive number 3 with its tender which belonged to the Tacna - Arica Railway and was used to transport troops to the port. It can be found in a park on Avenue Grau. In addition, the museum has the only library of its kind, the railway workshops and other curiosities, such as a map four metres in length that has the topographical survey of the Tacna - Arica railway prepared by Engineer Walter Evans in 1854.

Locomotive Number 3 which arrived in Tacna in 1875, can be found in a pretty courtyard
It’s preserved in excellent condition. It used coal for fuel.

There is also a luxurious passenger car that once served Bolognesi, Inclan (Peruvian 1879 War heroes) and other heroes for transportation.