CERA's 2nd Friday, December 12, 2025 Zoom Presentation: Harvey Laner: Program Argentina Rails and the Old Patagonia Express – 2004

CERA’s December 12, 2025 Zoom Presentation

https://tinyurl.com/CERAthe2ndFriday

Meeting Number 814 9251 7167  Passcode  880028

Zoom Presentation

https://tinyurl.com/CERAthe2ndFriday

Easy Link to Zoom 

HARVEY LANER

Argentina Rails and the Old Patagonia Express – 2004

In October of 2004, Trains Unlimited Tours sponsored a two-week railfanning adventure that spanned the far reaches of Argentina. 

Harvey Laner’s program begins in Buenos Aires at the standard gauge and broad gauge Ferro Club sites.  At the standard gauge location, former Pacific Electric equipment has been saved from the scrapper after use on the General Urquiza Railway.  The broad-gauge Ferro Club site has the last operating export Baldwin Shark Nose diesel in Argentina.  The Baldwin powers a charter train made up of the ex-Chesapeake and Ohio, Budd-built “Chessie” passenger train. 

The group then visits the historic streetcar line where trams operate an a one and a quarter mile loop in the Caballito neighborhood of Buenos Aires. 

We then board the broad gauge Tren Patagonico for the two day and two-night trip across the Argentinian Pampas into Patagonia.  There we transfer from the 5 ft 6 in broad gauge train to the 2 ft 5 ½ inch double-headed steam powered narrow gauge Old Patagonian Express.  Experience a memorable five-day adventure on the historic 250-mile-long narrow-gauge line where trains are powered by Baldwin and Henschel Mikados dating back to 1922.  

After a brief stay in scenic Bariloche, the program concludes back in Buenos Aires with a visit to the three Retiro district commuter rail line terminals serving Argentina’s Capital city.  The Retiro stations host an interesting mix of standard gauge, meter gauge and broad-gauge commuter trains, some powered by Alco export model RSD-16 locomotives shipped to Argentina in the late 1950s.

We will also have a short newscast preceding the regular program.

This program is open to all CERA members, their guestTo Be Announced s and the public.

Mark this date on your calendar!