"The Train to the Waters" São Lourenço Travelogue by glabah

São Lourenço has a wonderful old train station that has been restored. See the São Lourenço introduction page for a photograph of this station.

Huge wood pile for the trains at São Lourenço

Behind the station, at one of the old station platforms, is the wood pile for the wood burning steam locomotives. Yes, even though these are fairly large, modern locomotives, they are wood burners.

Track gang at work near the station

The trains are patronized well enough that paid workers have been hired to take care of some of the labor on the railroad. During my visit, a group of track workers was repairing and replacing track parts near the station in São Lourenço.

Filling the Water Tank, Waters Train, São Lourenço

Water is obtained from a hose and overhead pipe coming from one of the buildings that is part of the São Lourenço station complex.

Train leaving São Lourenço

Here, the train is leaving São Lourenço. Some of the residences of the city, such as the one in the background, have a European flavor.

Steam powered train near the São Lourenço airport.

The São Lourenço airport is near the line, thus creating what is probably the only instance of an airport being served by wood burning steam locomotives. Flights, however, seem to be very irregular.

Train approaching Soledade de Minas

The train runs along side a small river as it approaches the station in Soledade de Minas.

Train at the Soledade de Minas station

Local vendors have their booths set up on the platform at Soledade de Minas station.