Framing40s
Dune Snake
Between Concón and Ritoque, a series of massive coastal dunes sit along the edge of a frigid, unrelenting Pacific Ocean. They’re a popular getaway area for the locals, with large beaches suitable for beach outings, surfing, and horseback rides. Unbeknownst to some, however, is the fact that freight trains traverse the coastal dunes on a daily basis. FEPASA’s 7th Subdivision [Subdivisión 7] stretches between San Pedro and Ventanas, the site of Coldeco’s expansive copper production and export facility. The 7th links this stretch of mainline from the port to other subdivisions branching out of Llay-Llay and Santiago to copper mines and transload sites, with FEPASA acting as the middle man in moving the copper concentrate to its destination and the empties back to their terminal of origin.
Weaving it’s way through the southern portion of the coastal dunes, dubbed the “Sector Playa” [“Beach Section”] by local rail photographers, FEPASA train 50.950 is nearing the end of its journey to Ventanas with 31 cars loaded with pairs of copper concentrate tubs. Just a few minutes prior, they had met empty eastbound counterpart train 50.951 at Colmo, swapping crews for their returns to their home terminals. SD40-2M D-3306 leads the westbound freight through the curves sporting an early interation of FEPASA’s “new” corporate paint. Train 50.950 is a daily train running between Las Blancas and Ventanas, transporting copper concentrate loads in tubs that can be moved via trailer and train. The railroad’s SD40-2M’s are staple power for this train, along with 50.951, as they’re better suited for the grade up and down El Tabon further to the east on the 4th Subdivision.
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Quintero, Region V, Chile
FEPASA Subdivision 7
Date: 12/21/2020 | 11:29
ID: FEPASA 50.950
Type: Loaded Copper Concentrate
Direction: Westbound
Car Count: 31
1. FEPASA SD40-M2 D-3306
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© Vicente Alonso 2020
Dune Snake
Between Concón and Ritoque, a series of massive coastal dunes sit along the edge of a frigid, unrelenting Pacific Ocean. They’re a popular getaway area for the locals, with large beaches suitable for beach outings, surfing, and horseback rides. Unbeknownst to some, however, is the fact that freight trains traverse the coastal dunes on a daily basis. FEPASA’s 7th Subdivision [Subdivisión 7] stretches between San Pedro and Ventanas, the site of Coldeco’s expansive copper production and export facility. The 7th links this stretch of mainline from the port to other subdivisions branching out of Llay-Llay and Santiago to copper mines and transload sites, with FEPASA acting as the middle man in moving the copper concentrate to its destination and the empties back to their terminal of origin.
Weaving it’s way through the southern portion of the coastal dunes, dubbed the “Sector Playa” [“Beach Section”] by local rail photographers, FEPASA train 50.950 is nearing the end of its journey to Ventanas with 31 cars loaded with pairs of copper concentrate tubs. Just a few minutes prior, they had met empty eastbound counterpart train 50.951 at Colmo, swapping crews for their returns to their home terminals. SD40-2M D-3306 leads the westbound freight through the curves sporting an early interation of FEPASA’s “new” corporate paint. Train 50.950 is a daily train running between Las Blancas and Ventanas, transporting copper concentrate loads in tubs that can be moved via trailer and train. The railroad’s SD40-2M’s are staple power for this train, along with 50.951, as they’re better suited for the grade up and down El Tabon further to the east on the 4th Subdivision.
•
Quintero, Region V, Chile
FEPASA Subdivision 7
Date: 12/21/2020 | 11:29
ID: FEPASA 50.950
Type: Loaded Copper Concentrate
Direction: Westbound
Car Count: 31
1. FEPASA SD40-M2 D-3306
•
© Vicente Alonso 2020