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Maria Elena - Tocopilla Railway
The María-Elena - Tocopilla line was the last operating nitrate railway in Chile, and last operating section of a railway system that moved caliche ore to processing plants and nitrate to the port of Tocopilla. It was a magnet for rail fans before closing in August 2015 after severe rainfall damaged the tracks to the extent that the owner decided it was beyond economic repair. Its history was influenced primarily by two factors: the rise and fall of the Chilean nitrate industry in particular SQM and its predecessors, and the evolution of railway traction technology from steam to electric and diesel motive power. Construction The story of the railway began with the contract signed on 12 May 1883 between Edward Squire and the Chilean government. After the War of the Pacific, Chile had decided to reorganize the nitrate industry in the Toco plain. A key element of the concession was the construction of a railway between the plain and the port of Tocopilla. A joint-stock company, t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tocopilla
Tocopilla is a city and commune in the Antofagasta Region, in the north of Chile. It is the capital of the province that bears the same name. Every year Tocopilla celebrates its anniversary on 29 September with a big show the day before, which includes a parade down in the main street of the city, food and a fireworks display at midnight. The city is divided into two main parts consisting of the central city and smaller portion known as ''La Villa Sur'' (in which the more luxurious houses are located). The two parts are divided by the thermoelectric power plant and a large saltpeter processing and shipping plant, with the coastal highway connecting the two portions. The northern portion of Tocopilla is home of the municipal buildings, the central square and many stores and shops. The steep gradient of the city from beach to vertical hillside is covered in houses and apartments crammed together to save space. A large artificial beach called "Covadonga" and a small artificial beac ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
