PHOTOS OF BOLIVIAN RAILWAYS IN THE MID-60'S. I WAS SENT TO BOLIVIA TWICE IN 1966 ON PHOTO ASSIGNMENTS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ARMY SPECIAL PHOTOGRAPHIC OPERATIONS (PANAMA). IN MY FREE TIME I WAS ABLE TO DO A LITTLE RAILFANNING. GREAT DEAL OF WHAT IS SHOWN IN THESE PHOTOS IS NOW HISTORY. SAMPLE PHOTOS ARE OF LOW RESOLUTION AND DO NOT REFLECT THE FINAL QUALITY OF THE PHOTOGRAPH. ORDERING INFORMATION FOUND ON THE HOME PAGE
Photos taken around the La Paz Passenger Station in April and November 1966. The station was designed by Gustaff Eiffel who has a tower in Paris named after him. The station is now the bus terminal for La Paz. The elevation of this station is around 11,000 feet.
Passenger trains both in the station and climbing the grade out of La Paz to Alto station. The climb from La Paz to the Alto station is around 1,500 feet. The passenger train featured is the "International" which ran from La Paz to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Oruro is a railroad town located about 130 miles south of La Paz. It is located on the Altiplano at an elevation of about 11,300 feet. Tank engine #32 was also built Leeds, England by Kitson in 1911.
While on assigment photographing tin mines our vehicle lost its drive shaft so we made our return to La Paz from Oruro by rail. It was quite an experience listening to the steam locomotive rolling across the Altiplano.