uyuni bolivia scrapyard

Uyuni - Scrapyard or Museum?

Having made the decision to have an adventure to Bolivia in search of two elderly Sulzer powered locomotives, the travel guides were consulted to research what attractions might be of interest to this wayward traveller. With a desire to sample some of the passenger trains a check of the possibilites showed that the Oruro - Villazon service was a strong contender. A look at the map of the route showed that the route passed through Uyuni, which received several references in the tourist guides. Of great interest was the 'cementerio de trenes', the train cemetery located south of the town at the junction where the lines to Chile and Argentina separate.
Since the Oruro - Villazon service was basically an out and back working which left the traveller with the possibility of a 24 hour stay at Uyuni, the decision was made to forego the Uyuni - Villazon route for another time. Another factor in the decision was that a considerable amount of the journey would have been at night. So on the southbound trip we arrived at Uyuni late in the evening, accomodation was obtained at the Hotel Avenida across the street from the station. The nightime arrival shielded the traveller from the reality of the location of Uyuni until the next morning.
But whatever the location the day dawned bright, cold and clear for the 11,000 or so residents of Uyuni and a small number of tourists. At an elevation of about 3,660 metres during the spring season the days start out very chilly and if the sun shines they can get a little toasty later in the day. The guide books describe the conditions as 'harto frio' or 'frigido', in other words cold or climactically challenged.

After a fine cooked breakfast around the corner at a cafe on Av Arce a walk was taken up Av Ferroviaria to investigate the plinthed steam locomotive in the middle of the street (see view above). This locomotive was one of a pair of 2-8-4T Hunslet's, works numbers 1102 & 1103 of 1912, built for the FCAB and numbered 101 & 102, later 411 & 412 and as 551 & 552 in the ENFE numbering. Although showing the number '551' this is infact 552. The 551 is one of sixteen locomotives parked at the back of Uyuni shed (as of April 2008). Photographs of this locomotive in service show it being equipped with an American style cowcatcher, a large boxy headlamp, only one airpump and an extension to its bunker to allow it to carry a greater quantity of fuel. The view above is looking south, the railway facilities including the station are on the left whilst much of Uyuni's central business district is off to the right.
After inspecting the plinthed Hunslet the walk was made down to the 'train cemetery'. This is not difficult to find, just follow the railway tracks south until you reach the junction of the the lines to Chile & Argentina. The guide books say its about one kilometer, I thinks its a little further than that. There are two distinct lines of abandoned steam locomotives as well as an area at the north end of the yard which is just a jumble of partially dismantled equipment.

The three views above show the eastern most line of withdrawn locomotives, the left view is taken looking northwards towards Uyuni, whilst the right view is from the other end of the line looking in a southwesterly direction towards Chile. The center view shows the typical condition of the locomotives. Rust is the order of the day here, very little paint remains on any of these locomotives.

These three views feature the western most line of withdrawn locomotives, the left view is taken looking northwards towards Uyuni, visible behind the remains of the wagon to the left is the railway line from Uyuni to the border at Chile. The right view is from the other end of the line looking in a southwesterly direction towards Chile. The center view shows one of the locomotives in the line, athough heavily stripped of many critical parts it is still recogniseable for what it is. Many of the locomotives here are seriously dismembered and often little more than a jumbled array of parts. When the wind blows here it invariably brings every piece of loose plastic from the town rubbish dump, the plastic items becoming caught on any sharp object in the graveyard.

With the line to Chile visible passing the yard off to the right a solitary skeleton of a locomotive faces southwest. The scenery behind the locomotive is indicative of the Salar de Uyuni.

After the end of the graveyard is reached the railway line to Chile is the only manmade thing visible until it blends into the arid landscape. This is the route of the Antofagasta & Bolivia Railway (FCAB), running from the port at Antofagasta to Uyuni, Oruro & La Paz. For most of its route in Bolivia the line remains between 12,000 & 13,000 feet above sea level. Its only at Ascotan, Chile where the line begins its 230 mile descent from 13,000 feet down to sea level at Antofagasta. In this view the landscape will remain unchanged for about 100 miles southwest to Ollague as the railway skirts the south side of the Salar de Uyuni.

If luck comes your way whilst visiting the scrapyard at Uyuni you might witness a train passing. In this view from April 2008 the 'International Mixed' passes the yard at the end of its journey from Chile. To the left of the locomotive can be seen some of the abandoned steam locomotives.
Photograph courtesy John Middleton.

A Beyer Garrett locomotive stands severely dismembered in the middle of one of the lines.

Parts are scattered everywhere, why the wheels were put here, who knows? Uyuni sits at the southeast corner of the Salar de Uyuni, a 12,000 sq-km salt pan, which is a growing tourist attraction. It also provides an industry for the mining of salt, much of which leaves the area by rail through Colchani (north of Uyuni).

At the north end of the yard where the two distinct lines of steam locomotives ends the yard turns into a jumble of equipment. There is a mixture of dismantled steam locomotives parts, other rollings stock, both freight and passenger and other miscellaneous scrap items. Some of the rolling stock appears to be there because it sustained collision damage at some point whilst other equipment appears to be simply life expired.

The above three views all feature some type of passenger carrying rolling stock. The coaches in the left and right views still carry quite a bit of original paint and lettering whilst the center view shows an all steel coach probably dating from about 1950. Although it appears to be almost devoid of paint it would have carried a green livery when new.

Three other views (above) feature other identifiable rolling stock. The left view shows freight cars to the left parked in somewhat of an orderly fashion whilst to the right of them is a jumbled collection of wagon and bodyside frames, all tossed about. The second view shows a jumble of scrap, including two tenders and several types of freight wagons. And the third view, looking in the direction of Argentina show what maybe a baggage coach, a varied selection of wheels, and the body of a tender turned end on to the photographer.

Out to pasture on the eastern edge of the yard is what appears to be the remains of a locomotive tender.

Identity of the locomotives at the train cemetery (as of April 2008):

FCA No. ENFE mark Wheel Arrangement Maker Builders No. Date Remarks

FCAB 403 L11-017 2-8-0 Alco-Rogers 41132 1906 no tender

FCAB 404 L12-018 2-8-0 Alco-Rogers 41133 1906 no tender

FCAB 409 L10-014 2-8-2 K 4860 1913 no tender

FCAB 410 L09-013 2-8-2 K 4861 1913 no tender

FCAB 451 L07-011 2-6-0+2-6-0T Beyer Peacock 5617 1913

FCAB 452 L15-021 2-6-0+2-6-0T Beyer Peacock 5618 1913

FCAB 453 0392 2-6-0+2-6-0T Beyer Peacock 5619 1913 Parts of frame only

FCAB 454 L01-002 2-6-0+2-6-0T Beyer Peacock 5620 1913

FCAB 455 L14-020 2-6-0+2-6-0T Beyer Peacock 5621 1913

FCAB 456 L16-022 2-6-0+2-6-0T Beyer Peacock 5622 1913

660 (FCVA 4?) L06-008 2-8-2 Borsig 11846 ? 1925?

703 (FCVA 6) L04-006 2-10-2 Borsig 11956 1927

715 L13-019 4-8-2 Borsig 14596 1935

756 (FCAB 333) L17-025 4-6-2 Henschel 12748 1914 no tender

751 (FCAB 334) L03-005 4-6-2 Henschel 12749 1914 no tender

904 (FCAB 394) L05-007 4-8-2+2-8-4 Beyer Peacock 7421 1950

908 (FCAB 398) L02-004 4-8-2+2-8-4 Beyer Peacock 7425 1950

909 (FCAB 390) L08-012 4-8-2+2-8-4 Beyer Peacock 6524 1928

The above listing is gracefully provided by John Middleton following a visit during April 2008. There are eighteen locomotives listed but FCAB 453 is identified only by a number of parts partially buried at the north end of the yard.
Page added October 2002
Last updated May 23rd 2008.
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	With the line to Chile visible passing the yard off to the right a solitary skeleton of a locomotive faces southwest. The scenery behind the locomotive is indicative of the Salar de Uyuni.
	After the end of the graveyard is reached the railway line to Chile is the only manmade thing visible until it blends into the arid landscape. This is the route of the Antofagasta & Bolivia Railway (FCAB), running from the port at Antofagasta to Uyuni, Oruro & La Paz. For most of its route in Bolivia the line remains between 12,000 & 13,000 feet above sea level. Its only at Ascotan, Chile where the line begins its 230 mile descent from 13,000 feet down to sea level at Antofagasta. In this view the landscape will remain unchanged for about 100 miles southwest to Ollague as the railway skirts the south side of the Salar de Uyuni.
	If luck comes your way whilst visiting the scrapyard at Uyuni you might witness a train passing. In this view from April 2008 the 'International Mixed' passes the yard at the end of its journey from Chile. To the left of the locomotive can be seen some of the abandoned steam locomotives. Photograph courtesy John Middleton.
	A Beyer Garrett locomotive stands severely dismembered in the middle of one of the lines.
	Parts are scattered everywhere, why the wheels were put here, who knows? Uyuni sits at the southeast corner of the Salar de Uyuni, a 12,000 sq-km salt pan, which is a growing tourist attraction. It also provides an industry for the mining of salt, much of which leaves the area by rail through Colchani (north of Uyuni).

FCA No.	ENFE mark	Wheel Arrangement	Maker	Builders No.	Date	Remarks
FCAB 403	L11-017	2-8-0	Alco-Rogers	41132	1906	no tender
FCAB 404	L12-018	2-8-0	Alco-Rogers	41133	1906	no tender
FCAB 409	L10-014	2-8-2	K	4860	1913	no tender
FCAB 410	L09-013	2-8-2	K	4861	1913	no tender
FCAB 451	L07-011	2-6-0+2-6-0T	Beyer Peacock	5617	1913
FCAB 452	L15-021	2-6-0+2-6-0T	Beyer Peacock	5618	1913
FCAB 453	0392	2-6-0+2-6-0T	Beyer Peacock	5619	1913	Parts of frame only
FCAB 454	L01-002	2-6-0+2-6-0T	Beyer Peacock	5620	1913
FCAB 455	L14-020	2-6-0+2-6-0T	Beyer Peacock	5621	1913
FCAB 456	L16-022	2-6-0+2-6-0T	Beyer Peacock	5622	1913
660 (FCVA 4?)	L06-008	2-8-2	Borsig	11846 ?	1925?
703 (FCVA 6)	L04-006	2-10-2	Borsig	11956	1927
715	L13-019	4-8-2	Borsig	14596	1935
756 (FCAB 333)	L17-025	4-6-2	Henschel	12748	1914	no tender
751 (FCAB 334)	L03-005	4-6-2	Henschel	12749	1914	no tender
904 (FCAB 394)	L05-007	4-8-2+2-8-4	Beyer Peacock	7421	1950
908 (FCAB 398)	L02-004	4-8-2+2-8-4	Beyer Peacock	7425	1950
909 (FCAB 390)	L08-012	4-8-2+2-8-4	Beyer Peacock	6524	1928