"Narrow Gauge Budd Car to the Shore" Top 5 Page for this destination Estado do Parana Travelogue by glabah

On my previous trip over this railroad line, in January of 2002, I was on a standard tourist class car. This service ends in Morretes, and uses vans to move tourists around the city and deliver them back to Curitiba - sometimes right to their hotel doorstep.

This company also offers trips by self-propelled passenger car (a variation on the Budd RDC used built in North America in the 1950's) that in Brazil is known as a Litorina
or Automotriz. Serra Verde Express uses the term Litorina. Normally, this service also ends in Morretes.

However, in September of 2003, I rode with a group that chartered the car all the way between Curitiba and Paranagua by train, which would not normally happen under the current timetable.

Ponta São João on the railway east of Curitiba

The Ponta São João (Saint John Bridge) is one of the spectacular points on the line. The center span alone on this bridge is 70 meters long - about 228 feet. The bridge is listed at 55 meters (178 feet) high, but this must only be the height of the supports. It is obviously much higher than 200 feet above the canyon floor.

The Santuário da Nossa Senhora do Cadeado (Sanctuary of Our Lady of Cadeado) was established in the 1960's at a location that features one of the most scenic views along the line.

Now that the tourist trains have grown to so many cars, the standard trains no longer stop here. Our chartered Litorina had no problem doing so, however.

Railway line dangles off the side of a hill.

The railway has many spectacular views and dangles off the side of the hills in many places.

Bridal Veil falls, as seen from the train

Naturally, there are a number of waterfalls along the mountain range along the coast. One of the ones that can be seen from the train is Bridal Veil falls. Telephoto lens is very helpful though.

Abandoned railway shed in rainforest.

One of the more erie features of the line are the abandoned section houses and other structures beside the railway. The fog and clouds that sometimes invades the area plus the fact that these are so far from any civilization make a somewhat surreal experience to see one looming in the distance in the fog as the train passes one.