Tours and Activities:

El Valdiviano Steam Locomotive

The Valdiviano, a symbol of Valdivia´s cultural heritage, has not run on the tracks for over five years, yet its memory lives on in those who once traveled in its historic railway cars. 

The Valdiviano train departed from the city´s central railway station, led by an old North British Model 57 steam locomotive built in 1913, followed by two Linke-Hoffman carriages, a dining car, and, on occasion, up to two additional cars in the 1950s, with a total capacity of around 380 to 400 passengers. The journey of approximately 28 km to Antilhue combined urban and rural landscapes, connecting the city with the countryside as it was done in the past.

Unfortunately, since 2019, this train has not been in operation. However, those who experienced it fondly remember the excitement of holding their tickets in hand, waiting on the platform while the boiler was stoked to reach the ideal temperature. A white mist would cover the station, cameras clicked, and the classic whistle marked the beginning of an unforgettable experience.

Upon boarding the carriages and settling by the windows, it was impossible not to think about the importance this land transport system once had, in times when modern highways did not exist and towns thrived thanks to the train that connected them with larger settlements.

This tourist activity is carried out by the Chilean Association for the Conservation of Railway Heritage of Valdivia, together with the State Railway Company (EFE). Along the route, passengers could enjoy views of the Calle Calle River, lush green forests, and small villages passing one after another. The journey also included stops at Huellelhue and Pishuinco, where local gastronomy welcomed visitors with empanadas, calzones rotos, sopaipillas, cakes, and mote con huesillo.

In Antilhue, the end of the line, the stop lasted for more than two hours, enough time to explore a traditional fair and taste more unique dishes. There, the locomotive was refilled with water and turned around to begin the return trip to Valdivia, this time without stopping along the way.

Although today it is a memorable journey that can no longer be enjoyed, the Valdiviano is still considered a cultural treasure, declared a National Monument in 2009 and chosen in 2014 as one of Valdivia´s seven most valuable heritage assets. Efforts are still underway to materialize its legacy in a Steam Museum, while a citizen-driven plan seeks to recover the railway heritage, though the deterioration of the tracks and the challenge of securing funding make its return difficult.

Despite that, tracing on a map the route it followed for so many years gives us the pleasure of returning to a past that deserves to be remembered for its influence on the life of the towns. Today, modernity drives us toward fast and efficient travel, but it has lost part of the charm that once made it truly unforgettable.

See also: Hotels in Valdivia and other accommodation venues