Tocopilla nitrate railway
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The María-Elena - Tocopilla line was the last operating nitrate railway in Chile, and last operating section of a railway system that moved caliche ore to processing plants and nitrate to the port of Tocopilla. It was a magnet for rail fans before closing in August 2015 after severe rainfall damaged the tracks to the extent that the owner decided it was beyond economic repair.
Quick Facts Overview, Main region(s) ...
Overview | |||
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Main region(s) | Plains of Northern Antofagasta province | ||
Parent company | SQM | ||
Dates of operation | 1890–2016 | ||
Predecessor | ACN&R, TCPP, SIT | ||
Technical | |||
Track gauge | 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) | ||
Electrification | 1500 V DC | ||
Track length | 227 km (141 mi) | ||
No. of tracks | Single | ||
Highest elevation | 1,454 m (4,770 ft) | ||
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Its history was influenced primarily by two factors: the rise and fall of the Chilean nitrate industry in particular SQM and its predecessors, and the evolution of railway traction technology from steam to electric and diesel motive power.