Ferronor Potrerillos - Llantas - Chañaral Line, Chile

In Llantas, Ferronor train machines: GR12U #412 and #401, were buit by General Motors in 1962. The Unit 412 was rebuilt and newly painted 'thanks' to an accident in Argentina. The unit derailed with a freight on the Argentinan side of the Socompa pass/ 'Ramal C14' in 2006 together with unit 408. Because Belgrano Cargas, the Railroad the tracks on the Argentinan side belong to, refused to pay for the repairs, Argentinan customs confiscated the two units without further ado. After three years of inactivity, the locomotives were released upon a court decision, then repaired in Alto Cordoba (Argentina) at the expense of Belgrano Cargas and finally returned to Chile.
Most locomotives of the Ferronor Potrerillos appear rather filthy after years of continuous operation on the mountain line with its many tunnels. Also, heavy loads have to be transported uphill, since the smelter and the refinery are located at the upper end of the line, which takes its toll from the motive power.
The valley narrows as the line climbes further, passing the 'Quebrada del Río Salado'. (Salt River Gorge) The locomotives often run with open machine room doors, which allowed enjoying the sound of the EMD units unadulterated. This is even echoed by the Río Salado Gorge to a sondscape that could hardly have been topped!