RETURN TO ECUADOR IV
THE PREVIOUS PAGE DESCRIBED MY LAST TRIP ON THE FFCC IN ECUADOR
The next day, I again rented a taxi and returned to Bucay. I didn’t really expect there to be much action, and indeed, there was none. Engine 53, which I had enjoyed the day before, was stone-cold, sitting next to No. 58, also looking a bit worse for wear.
Already cold after returning from Huigra the day before
There were three examples left of the Alco diesels I had ridden in 1979. These looked pretty battered, but might have been operational. None was running that day.
Not looking so very hot!
The other side of No. 161
There had been at least ten of these originally
Under the shed, perhaps still operable
This photo shows Diesel No. 167; next to it is a passenger car dating originally to the late 1800s, and beyond that is a new Alsthom Diesel in like-new condition. The photo encapsulates the history of the G&Q quite nicely.
These French diesel engines were brand new in 1993
Note that 2496 was named Eloy Alfaro, and marked ENFE
I’m not sure exactly when, but the railway system was renamed ENFE (Empressa Nacional de Ferrocarilles Ecuatorianos), essentially Ecuadorian National Railway Company. Steam was still marked G&Q or S&C as appropriate. The small speeder below looked new, or newly refurbished:
Just the thing for a quick trip up the Nariz del Diablo
Altogether, there was no action whatsoever around the shops, and no one bothered me as I poked around. It might have been a holiday. I got the photos below, but eventually had to return to Guayaquil by taxi.
Tired engines resting.
Number 58 looked like it was operational
Looking through the cab of 58 to 53
Outside there was a rail-bus being worked on
The markings are interesting: “Metropolitan Touring” suggests some sort of private company, but ENFE Ingaperca would indicate ENFE ownership. In any case, this one needs work!
Back at Guayaquil the next day, I talked my way into the Durán shops, old and new: these will be the subjects of future pages.
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