The Ecuadorean railroad was started on the goverment of Gabriel
García Moreno in 1874 a year before he dies. The work was later
continued by the government of Eloy Alfaro along with Archer
Harman, representative of "The Guayaquil and Quito Railway
company", in 1895
Although the abrupt Ecuadorean geography and the opposition to
the Eloy Alfaro government, Alfaro and Harman did not give up.
Local and foreign engineers, builders, and workers managed to
overcome the greatest challenge: the building of the "Nariz del
Diablo".
The "world's most difficult railway", as called by Archer
Harman, finally get to Alausí in 1902, Guamote in 1903, Riobamba in
1905, Ambato in 1906, Latacunga in 1907, and finally reached Quito
in 1908. When the Locomotive #8, driven by Arturo Munizaga, arrived
in Quito, a major national civil holiday was declared. Even though
the great difficulties, the work was finished and the railway
connected the Sierra and the Coast regions for the first time. Then
this monumental work facilitated massive production, exchange,
trade, integration, and communication along the two regions.
The Locomotive #15, which once belonged to the
Ferrocarriles Ecuatorianos, now has been converted in a nice
monument located at one side of the city stadium.
If you come to Riobamba, it is strongly recommended that you
take a train tour. Tourists from all over the world come to
Riobamba in order to discover nature beauties, amazing landscapes,
delicious food, and friendly people during the route.
In the twentieth century, the old railroad used to join the
Coast Region with the Sierra. During the last decades, the railway
has been damaged because of the weather, and the trains don't reach
The Coast anymore. However, a recent effort to rehabilitate the
railroad has promised to make this happen again.
The "Nariz del Diablo" (the Devil's Nose) is one of the major
touristic attractions found along the way. It is a unique piece of
engineering found nowhere else, which receives the name of the
devil due to its form. When the train reaches this point, it
descends abruptly about 800 meters (about 2600 feet) making a
zig-zag motion. Did I forget to mention that the train descends
backwards?
Time for the cache?
You are looking for an unoficial magnetic black nanocache stuck
to the Locomotive #15 or one of its wagons. Muggles might be close,
so stealth is required. Please see the spoiler first and get closer
to the locomotive only when you are sure.
Once the cache is found, seal and rehide it well. There is only
space for your initials, so your comments are welcome in your
online logs. Don't forget to bring your own pen.
Enjoy Riobamba and the old train!
|