M Y O B

It has been too long since I last put up another page. It has been a busy time of year for me. I hope those readers who celebrate Christmas had a pleasant one.

We are still back in 1993, when I returned to Ecuador hoping for many rides behind steam. As described previously, I got far fewer rides than I had hoped-for. Upon my return to Guayaquil after the trip that got me only to Huigra, I spent another day poking around in the yards at Durán. The older yard, near the station, was in bad repair and there seemed to be little going on. On the day I was there, no one was around, and I took the photos which follow.

Forlorn

Engine Number 43 looking pretty worn out. I could not tell if she was being cannibalized for parts, or being rebuilt.

Boiler Number 8 reconstructed 1955

These old engines were rebuilt over and over!

The cab of No. 43

She looks pretty bad. Note a First Class car behind it. These were rebuilt over and over as well.

The smoke-box of No. 43

This, at least, looked like work was being done to get her under way again.

Looking a bit better than No. 43

No. 44 was clearly being rebuilt, possibly using parts of No. 43.

There’s hope for this one

Number 44 was clearly in better condition than No. 43. I have no idea is she ever ran again, though.

Although “on the ground”, she stands a chance

I’d have to guess that Number 44 did run again. She was clearly receiving the necessary attention.

Number 46 was also under the sheds

I had seen Number 46 operating in 1979. Here, she looks a bit worse for wear!

Looked to me like she was being stripped for parts

However, the missing pieces of the cab may just be under repair. There was no way of telling.

The fireman’s side of No. 46

She’s still on her wheels, but all the motion has been dropped.

No. 55’s other marker.

“Boiler No. 58 reconstructed in Durán, June 1981″

Pump lying on the ground

My guess is this pump was used to hydrostatically test new boilers. I could be wrong.

Ecuadoreños are proud of their railroad!

I can no longer recall whether this homage was at Durán, or at Bucay, but it had been erected  since I was there in 1979.

Later this same day, I bribed the guard watching the gate to the new shops and had a look around in there. That will be my final page about Ecuador and the FFCC (ENFE).

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