"800 mm Gauge to Itatinga" Itatinga Travelogue by glabah

Itatinga is a community that serves a hydroelectric dam, which was built by the city of Santos. To get to the dam, it is necessary to cross a river, and then take the narrow gauge (800 mm between the rails) train to the end of the line.

In order to ride on the boat or the train, it is necessary to sign a waiver of liability agreement. This form is available at the pier at the end of the road leading to the river.

Of Significant Historic Interest

As the railway was built to serve the transportation needs of a hydroelectric plant, it should not be surprising that electricity should be chosen as the form of motive power.

Rather than use low voltage direct current (as was common at the time) or low frequency alternating current (as was done a few contemporary long distance railways), this line was electrified at 60 Hz, the standard industrial frequency. This is possibly the first railway in the world that was electrified without the need for a frequency conversion.

The train ready to depart.

The train is sitting at the pier opposite the end of the road. From here to Itatinga, there are two ways to travel: walk along the tracks, or take the train.

There is no charge to take the train or the boat. It is one of the last free train services left in the world. It is operated primarily for the benefit of the residents of Itatinga. Regular services from the boat to the community are offered several times a day.

Morning Train near Lower Shops

Regularly scheduled service on the railway between Itatinga and the outside world happens every few hours. The self-propelled passenger cars are used to haul trailer cars, which may either be freight cars (note the gondola car hidden behind this car - hauling garbage out of the city on this particular trip), or passenger cars (see above photo).

Lower Shop Building

About 3/4 of a mile from the lower station and boat pier, there is a small shop building that houses some of the equipment used on the line.

Remains of Steam Locomotive in Lower Shops

For a number of years, backup power on the line were small steam locomotives. One remains on the property, in the lower shops building, but in pieces. Unfortunately, it does not appear that there is much interest in returning the locomotive to service.

New Diesel Locomotive at Itatinga

At the shops near the hydroelectric dam, at the other end of the line, sits a new diesel locomotive. It was built here at Itatinga.

Three Cars at the End of the Line

The end of the line at the hydroelectric dam seems to serve as the primary equipment storage location for the line. Several freight and passenger cars were there, in addition to the two electric locomotive / passenger car units.

Itatinga Train heading Back

At the Itatinga station, with the train ready to go back to the boat and deliver the people to the rest of the world. The stations, of which there are several, are simple but effective and adequate to the needs of the line.

For additional pictures, please see my tips and introduction pages for Itatinga as well. Also, there are more photos at the Itatinga section of the Brazilian Railway Photo Album.

The Itatinga Pages on the Ferrovias Brasil web site also has interesting information and photographs of the line.