Tren a las Nubes: Soar Through the Andes on a Thrilling Ride Above 4200 Meters!

[@SimplyRailway]

Hi folks, I’m sorry but KZbin flagged my video with the national anthem of Argentina at 18:13 ! That’s why I had to replace the music with something else. Hola amigos, lo siento, ¡pero KZbin marcó mi vídeo con el himno nacional de Argentina a las 18:13! Por eso tuve que reemplazar la música por otra cosa.

[@caa1000]

The new Argentina Anthem is the soothing sounds of the rail tracks! Wonder why KZbin copyrights national anthems?

[@sequoiasemperviren3163]

One last note. Thank you and bless you for your generous offering of your time, treasure, and talents by videoing and uploading your train journeys! At 65, retired, on a limited income, and heart issues I could never possibly take such a trip so bless you for bringing the journey to us. Merci beaucoup.

[@cesarnyc]

I'm grateful for having been able to ride this train in 2008 all the way from the city of Salta to the Polvorilla Viaduct. I know that for non-rail tourists it might be considered a long haul, but I loved it. Back then it was operated by EccoTren, a private company, and had a very good dining car. But, I understand that because of the terrain and climate, there were frequent delays due to rocks and earth sliding onto the tracks due to downpours in the rainy season. While the bridges seem to cross very narrow, harmless streams of water, when it rains they are quite wide and ravished everything on sight. On my trip we were delayed for that very reason. But it was an incredible experience. Thanks for sharing.

[@k0k0m02008]

Great experience. Some comments: 1) this was the second railway connection to Chile after the Trasandino line built in the 1910's connecting Mendoza with Santiago, but the only one still operational (there are still freight services running) 2) up until the late 90's there used to be a mixed service of passenger and freight right up to the border with Chile in Socompa village. But the tourist operator complained that many people were taking this service, aimed for locals, instead of theirs so it was discontinued. 3) extreme conditions, geopolitical environment (recall ancient rivalry between ARG-CHI) and lack of funds made it this long to be completed 4) track maintenance is something Argentine railways tend to lack, especially on these locations, so total travel time from Salta by rail was unusually long accordingly. Therefore it was decided to employ the bus+train option 5) coaches are a mixture of Werkspoor built in the Netherlands in the 60's plus some local stuff too (you can see the difference in the straight vs rounded "belly")

[@hectorr.malgioglio2047]

Muy correcta su información 👍

[@marcelogutgt22]

Excellent video and very well narrated. I'll make you a correction, the locomotive is not an EMD G22, it's an EMD GT 22 CU. In Argentina, the 7700 series are G22 and the 9700 series are GT 22. The EMD G22 is a shorter locomotive with less power. In this case, the locomotive that guided your train was 9710. This numbering applies to the General Belgrano Railway, which is the one that makes the route C 14 or Train to the Clouds. As for the passenger cars, there were 2 types on the train you used, the Materfer, made in the province of Cordoba and the Tafi Viejo, made in the Province of Tucuman, the Tafi Viejo are the ones where the lower part of the car is lean inwards. For example, in the video the car P 4058 is a Tafi Viejo. The letter P (Primera clase) is for First Class. Another of the cars says PB 4506, PB would be First Class with Bar.

[@oat138]

Are those EMD G22 without Turbos?

[@eduardosantabaya5348]

@@oat138 exactly, operating locos without turbos at 4000 mt height is not a good idea.

[@mukherjeesuniversum2665]

Really want to see you exploring Indian Railways. We have a huge contrast when it comes to trains.

[@parker6227]

I dont think he wants to die from disease

[@mukherjeesuniversum2665]

@@parker6227 You then have century old thought. Also, we are the land of Ayurveda (If you know what it is), so you not gonna die from disease.

[@anishpatra]

We have one of the most luxurious trains. You must try them. Or you can try the normal passengers for a more Indian experience.

[@kaybee1500]

@@anishpatra You mean the Indian experience where you are crowded like sardines on the roof of the train. No thanks.

[@anishpatra]

@@kaybee1500 I've not seen that experience in a while.

[@williammodlin2621]

It’s unfortunate that the train doesn’t go all the way to Antofagasta, Chile. That would be an interesting journey as it traverses the Atacama desert. Also, Antofagasta is a fairly large city on the Chilean coast. If you did the trip one way, you can fly from there to Santiago, for example. Still, an amazing and beautiful trip. Thank you.

[@alfredocoelho8088]

Salut Thibault! The seats are kind of standard for long distance bus lines here in Argentina. Thanks again for reviewing trains of our country man!

[@fabianbenitez8609]

Thank you for your amazing videos 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 Salta is beautiful is Amazing.and the TREN A LAS NUBES too. GOD Bless you. Greetings from Buenos Aires Argentina🇦🇷

[@d1234as]

The shortened version removes all the spirals and zig-zags from the line, the main reasons because this line is famous (with the altitude and the andinian landscape).

[@hectorr.malgioglio2047]

si es cierto, también cuenta con algún ocho y túnel.

[@mikeedwards9306]

Another great upload of a fascinating destination, thank you.

[@TheArmouredArmadillo]

Wow. Asides from my one word comment about the scenery and bridges along the route, your reviews just keep getting better in quality with a fantastic variety of trains now as well. Keep the fantastic work up

[@dennisud]

When My dad retired my parents lived in Antofagasta for a few years! They should do a Tourist sleeper train line between Antofagasta and Salta! Imagine it! And as I was born in Chile I understood everything I heard on your video! 😉 That bridge beckons us to continue to Chile! 🙂

[@skintslots]

Well done for using the word 'literally' in the correct way. Many English speakers cannot even do that.

[@ethancampbell6076]

9:01 Fantastic EMD 645 prime mover

[@chrisannear9579]

I did the trip in 2004 - by train the whole way! I think it took 14 hours - way too long but I'm glad I did it

[@junktionfet]

Absolutely breathtaking. Makes me miss Argentina! You truly were on top of the world

[@Teddini]

Train or Bus, this seems to be a journey worth in any way. What beautiful scenery..

[@gregepps4710]

Stunning video, thank you

[@TomGrahamsa]

Beautiful trip. I have been to San Pedro de Atacama on the Chilean side of the area. we were walking at 13,000 + feet and I had a coughing spell and almost passed out from lack of oxygen. It is beautiful in the Andes, but the altitude can get you.

[@williammerry4746]

Outstanding report Five stars. Rugged beauty, interesting people, good train and a great videographer and editor. Thanks.

[@agustin2777]

Aguante Argentina y los trenes 🤟

[@andresrodriguez-py3yo]

Totalmente de acuerdo, ese tren te lleva claramente a las nubes ☁️

[@sirrliv]

"And here comes the good part..." The Mid-roll Ad! XD

[@valeriebassett3107]

Sometimes it is nice to try something different. Very interesting and enjoyable video. Thank you for taking us along with you on your trips. See you next week!

[@conniepayne591]

It's always interesting seeing these scenic parts of the world. Thanks for bringing them and for the video.🙂

[@marinacarmenmartinez6829]

Hermoso Argentina! 🇦🇷

[@ampersand.]

Thanks for sharing - that was lovely. What a nice friendly train service!

[@WhoWhereTheBee]

It's an incredible trip i'm yet to make some day. Engineer Richard Fontaine Maury and my grandfather, also an engineer here in Argentina, were very close friends.

[@paulpjy4996]

Thank you awesome train ride and they do keep the train clean!!

[@sequoiasemperviren3163]

I mapped out the entire track route from Salta, Argentina to the Pacific Ocean. Unfortunately the train excursion begins at San Antonio de los Corres, Argentina, at about track mile 124 and only goes as far as the Viaducto la Polvorilla at about track mile 137. So you take a 109 mile bus ride from Salta for about a 26 mile round trip train excursion.

[@SimplyRailway]

Thank you for the information!

[@chrisneppiras7951]

love the way the south American train routes see-saw up a mountain and they have consist running around points at certain heights.

[@timnewman1172]

Thank you Thibault, it is truly beautiful there!

[@robertmcshea8868]

Dear Simply Railway, I highly recommend that you look into making the full journey o the White Pass & Yukon railway in Alaska. It is a bit of a chore to get there, but the Alaska Marine Highway ferries and Air Alaska can get you to Skagway. It would be memorable for you.

[@Trainviking]

This is sooooo cool

[@rezaalan3991]

Great trip with breathtaking landscape.

[@scottyerkes1867]

Very impressive scenery!! Nicely tefurbished coaches. I also hate buses but the scenery makes for an enjoyable journey to connect with the train. Thank you Thibault for presenting this adventure.😀😀💚💚

[@SMILEVIDEOTRAINS]

thank you

[@Archiemonty]

☺ Nice excursion included: fresh air with just a "subtle hint" of diesel feul

[@esmonk]

Great vid! one thing to point out tho is that the locomotive in the video is a GT22 not a G22, the former being longer and more powerful, also, the coaches were built by Fiat Concord(AKA Materfer) and Pistoiesi between the '60's and '70's running long distance services on the metric gauge railways, sadly none of these services remain. Thank so much for coming to my country!

[@tonytucceri5901]

Another fabulous upload! Extraordinary scenes and commentary. What camera/phone gear do you use?

[@SimplyRailway]

Iphone 12

[@caa1000]

Literally is the train to the clouds, minus the clouds... Oh well... Nice trip!

[@marianoallmemories6607]

Fantastic trip on that train

[@ratridge]

Great video. Fav'd.

[@samtrak1204]

I'm not a big bus fan either, but I am enjoying your scenic bus ride.

[@Ctha399]

The Shop (half of the coach) had a BEST interiors on the whole train 😂

[@Eurobazz]

A very nice filmic of the train journeyic. It's a pity though they don't refurbishic the trackic down to Salta.

[@richardestes4259]

When I Was 9, I went from Arequipa to Hauncayo with my parents. Don’t remember much but stopping at the pass(12700 ft ?) to let a doctor come on board with oxygen for the passengers. I had siroche and a terrible headache

[@SteamboatWilley]

It's good that the seats are arranged in bays of four and line up with the windows, but tables would be nice.

[@katherinespencer2633]

Wow, that’s a once in a lifetime adventure! Beautiful scenery, but I’d pass out from the altitude. Better you go, then me!

[@chilglish]

Great content! Merçi beaucoup ! Did you suffer from any kind of altitude sickness?

[@jonhartley]

Wow, wow, and thrice wow! You have excelled yourself with this vid. Stunning scenery together with a good commentary. When is a bus a coach? According to a friend of mine a bus takes you where you have to go - school, work etc, and a coach takes you where you want to go, such as a coach tour. Then add autobus, autocar, and heaven knows what else and you will be none the wiser. Think I'll stick to train coaches ...... or should that be buses?

[@perhapsme988]

Thanks for the video. Pity it's the whole rail trip. The 2 sinks/faucets outside toilets at end of carriage are common in Chinese rail carriages. It's a very good thoughtful feature and very convenient for those that need to wash up without using the toilet.

[@astrofabio68]

excellent review Thiabout...!

[@notmyname327]

Ooh I really want to take this trip! It's a shame it doesn't go all the way from Salta but you're right that it'd be too long for a tourist ride. @2:49 "they're drinking red, Torrontés (a kind of wine)" I don't know what she was talking about lol Yeah, the altitude can be tough. I've only been to Salta and Jujuy once but I remember a car ride going through the Andes where I felt quite sick and sleepy, hard to catch a breath. The landscapes are worth it though

[@MelElMusico2024]

Wow nice one

[@pakroomitrains]

Excellent 👍👍👍

[@centredoorplugsthornton4112]

Look for the Great Railway Journeys episode, High Andes to Patagonia presented by US actor and producer Buck Henry. He begins with Tren a Las Nubes, depicting coca tea, toasted coca leaves in the buffet car, and medical oxygen and even a doctor on board. As late as 1999 the Tren a Las Nubes began and ended in Salta, without the bus ride. Left 7 am, mid afternoon at the bridge, back in Salta late evening.

[@jgodfrey546]

Most interesting! How far does the track extend beyond the bridge...? Wonder if they considered a train 1 way, bus the other option from Salta...

[@ignaciojuarez8363]

63 metres beyond the tracks

[@ignaciojuarez8363]

Until I don't remember now but 2014 or 2015 there were the option of traveling by train from Salta to LA Polvorilla gateway

[@zoetmuldermedia1414]

Oui oui, simply railway, I have an idea for you, you should try amtrak's lake shore limited, I've been on that train and it was pretty fun

[@charlesbaran1106]

What is the purpose of the gondola car at the end of the coach consist? At first I thought it was an open-air car for passengers (like on the Cumbres & Toltec RR in Colorado and New Mexico and other tourist trains), but I did not see people in it.

[@thomasbrabbs]

Great video, I recognise the name from an IB Spanish Ab Initio past paper!

[@Abnerbandanovotempoinscrito1mi]

Bom passeio aí simply

[@TheDavidNYC]

Great. Really interesting 😁👍🏻

[@prop_thunder_therealone]

when i saw the thumbnail i thought about a steam train with eyes looking weird glued onto it and a nose glued onto it and a table with crack near it

[@MadScientist750]

They look like the old Werkspoor units, maybe they pulled them from the Buenos Aires - Mar del Plata line, they used to work together with some Hitachi - Pullman ones. Locomotive is likely an GM-EMD GT22...

[@davidcuulong9935]

At 17:04 I love your translation, "You'll experience breathing trouble and ATTITUDE sickness". A wonderful trip, it is too bad it is such a short length of the line.

[@hainam8614]

Yes let's go!!

[@bradirby2355]

I had altitude sickness once in Colorado. No fun.

[@James_Moton]

5:48 Why is there a gondola car at the end of the train consist?

[@VulcanTrekkie45]

Literally halfway up Everest

[@mtkessel5020]

Have you been on the Durango and Silverton train in Colorado? It is a really beautiful trip.

[@JairoNunesFerreira]

Excelente vídeo+ inscrição!! Abraço!

[@KvG62]

Great video again, thank you. When are you going to explore the Turkish scenic and touristic routes?

[@oat138]

Very nice video. The train would go on many switchbacks and it would really take a very long time to get up to the Bridge. The train would go from downtown Salta. That mountain with the snow on top, is Nevado de Cachi. From what I was told by a couple of people, there are skeletons of children on it. Some tribe of people back in the day, would desigate one if their kids to be the "GIFT" and one day, they would tell the kid to start walking up that mountain. They would not be given food or water or warm clothes. They would climb until they died. When the Incan's invaded this area, they put a stop to that "Barbaric" activity. Like I said, I heard that from a couple of people.

[@willgibson9718]

Cool

[@michaelbruchas6663]

Am surprised that open top gondola car wasn’t open for riders!

[@ovibiswas7849]

hey. I m a new subscriber. amazing contents. but why there is no content about Norway.why?

[@ferroviestazioni]

Nice video.

[@robgys2685]

Chaque fois que je vois un pont en Amérique du sud, je pense à la scène de Tintin "Le temple du soleil"🤣

[@LQC2556]

The scenery of this train ride is quite interesting - it does look similar to the Grand Canyon area, but at twice the elevation. Also, just a random thought but it's interesting that an American engineer would design a train line of 1000 mm gauge.

[@nataliajimenez1870]

It looks like Western Colorado: high elevation and semi-arid

[@roger0929]

I know, right? Those 67 mm must have really caused him some serious issues.

[@yolacintia]

I live in AZ and it looks like the Grand Canyon-Sedona corridor. Even the cardones look like our saguaros.

[@mukulbajpai6190]

I hope the physical work on Bilaspur -Leh line start soon. Ofcourse it would take another decade from then but when ready it would a spectacle.

[@andersonhenriquedossantos7898]

Sou pessoas especializada em casa e qualquer lugar do mundo no espectro autista smo tremmmm

[@noobgame6070]

Very nice

[@weerwolfproductions]

I've watched two of these Argentinian railway journeys so far. Both times there was a buffer car (empty freight car) between the locomotive and the train itself. Anyone knows why that seems to be standard practice with Argentinian rail companies?

[@aishikghoshagr520]

WDM EMD seen. Seeing YDM EMD Loco 1st time.

[@marianag6449]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 🥰 argentina!

[@jackybeck2479]

Did you know that 'Tren a la Nubes' means 'train in the clouds' in Spanish?

[@SH-ly1uy]

The track to Chile made sense before the Panama Canal was opened. Now not that much any more

[@selfstockage7930]

Super

[@RobG1981]

10:39 "Yup, it's a Diesel!"

[@pablopiblito7955]

The number nine!

[@everythingbyjanetdullaghan5122]

Nice 😊

[@nahuelrasquela2426]

Veo el video de mi país y se me eriza la piel

[@noticiasinmundicias]

7:03 people literally talking about an ambulance coming for someone who keeps fainting lol

[@sankaranarayananmurali5244]

Would be nice if there were videos on this channel about Asian railways as well😅

[@SteamboatWilley]

I hope they can one day reinstate the train so you can do the full journey on the train and avoid the bus ride.

[@DanielGonzalez-pw2sz]

The subtitles are really hard to see

[@gacj2010]

WOW ..looks like a model layout .. beautifully scenic .. I hope some day you can do a trip through Ukraine after it is quickly re built and free

[@grahfseekerofpower5514]

5:50