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Mountain Railways

(By “J.W.”)

There are no railroads in any part of the world that can compare with those of the Republic of Peru, on the Pacific or West Coast of South America, as regards altitudes. The Central Railroad, which starts from Callao, the seaport town, and Lima (the capital of the Republic), a few miles inland, attains a height of 15,806ft. above the level of the Pacific. This point is on the Morococha branch, off the main line.

The highest point on the main line to Oroya is at Tichio, in the centre of the Galera tunnel. To reach these altitudes the regular passenger train passes through sixty tunnels and traverses many bridges. The running time is about nine hours. The total length of the railroad is 258 miles.

The Oroya extension was commenced in 1905 and traffic was opened in 1908.

The other railroad is the Southern, which starts from the port of Mollendo, via Arequipa to Puno on the Peruvian border of Lake Titicaca, the queen of all mountain seas, whose waters bathe the feet of the mighty peaks, reaching to altitudes of 20,000ft., robed in perpetual ice and snow.

The highest point on this line is 14,666ft. above sea level—at a station, Crucero Alto. There is one tunnel only, of horse-shoe shape, on this railway, situated between Arequipa and Puno Port. The distance from Mollendo to the lake is 325 miles by rail.

The work of construction of both main lines (the Central and Southern) may be termed a triumph of engineering skill and enterprise, and was performed by the indomitable Henry Meiggs, of American nationality.

Mr. Meiggs died during the construction of the Central Railroad, and had not the satisfaction of seeing the termination of his wonderful achievements. His work, however, will live after him, and will bear witness, for all time, to his illustrious memory.