Puente Alto-El Volcan Railway
Puente Alto-El Volcan Railway is a small military railway between Puente Alto and El Volcán in Chile. The railway had a narrow gauge of 600 mm (1 ft 11 5⁄8 in), and was constructed in 1906 under Chile's Ministry of Railways. As each section was completed, it was inaugurated: on March 1, 1910 (from Puento Alto to El Canelo); in 1911 (from El Canelo to El Melocotón); and on June 9, 1914 (from El Melocotón to El Volcan). The railway was built at a cost of $2,335,630 and remained operational until 1985.
The railway's main objective was not to unite Chile and Argentina (as claimed by Chile), but to monitor the border and prevent any attacks from Argentina on Chile. Originally, when the State Railway Company commissioned an engineer to explore the area (who recommended the railway's construction), the idea was not taken seriously due to the lack of interest shown by the Chilean and Argentine governments. However, once the Military expressed the importance of this railway as a means of defence against a possible conflict, the Chilean government authorized its construction.
Its functions were to ensure practical training of military personnel and to provide strategic protection of the mountain passes. The military was responsible for the operation, management and repair of the railway.
Multiple studies were performed before the development of the railway:
The State Railway Administration mainly supervised the desk work done before the construction (for example, making the inventory of material required for the construction and operation, regulations and cost estimates), though their decisions were subject to approval by many others (including the Ministry of Railways, the Army, the Ministry of Public Works and later the State Railway Company).
At first, the engines used to test the line were small German locomotives made by Koppel. These pulled flat bed and freight cars, narrow passenger cars made of wood, or sometimes a small buscarril.
As the train traveled on very steep terrain, the size of those German locomotives was sometimes insufficient for the climb. Therefore, in some cases, more than one engine was used; one at the front pulling the train and another at the back pushing the train. In other cases, just one small but powerful locomotive was used to push a shorter train up the slope.
Transporting copper concentrate, gypsum and limestone, livestock and agricultural products by train became safer and more economical. Railway passenger traffic from Cajon del Maipo and Santiago also started, thanks to those services, with the main intent being going on vacation in the Andean villages in the mountains.
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