Tours and Activities:

El Valdiviano Steam Locomotive

As we sat upon the ample seats of these old cars and felt the rocking movement, we imagined we were traveling back in time.

El Valdiviano leaves from the central railway station in the city. Its locomotive is followed by three cars built at the same moment. It goes on a 28-kilometer ride that integrates city and rural scenes, just like it used to.

Holding our tickets and standing on the platform, we observed the last details of the preparation of the locomotive, which included several pumping movements in the steam boiler to increase its temperature to the desired point. A white mist invaded us and we took advantage of the moment to take some pictures of that unique postcard. Then, the classic sound of the whistle set everything into motion.

We got on one of the cars and made ourselves comfortable by one of the windows. We did not want to miss a thing. We knew how important this transport system used to be when the routes we see today did not exist. In those days, villages used to develop from the railway stations that joined them with more important urban settlements.

This tourist activity is exploited by Asociación Chilena de Conservación del Patrimonio Ferroviario de Valdivia together with EFE. The route joins Valdivia and Antilhue on a roundtrip. The locomotive model is 57, number 620 and it was built in 1913. The cars came from Germany in 1920.

We contemplated the Calle Calle River. Green woods and hamlets followed one another. The train stopped at two stations on the way: Huellelhue and Pishuinco. Both of them offered delicious gastronomic options: empanadas, calzones rotos, sopaipilla, queques and mote con huesillo.

The tour ends at Antilhue. This is the longest stop and there is plenty to see. We watched a customs show and grabbed a bite of a local specialty. In the meantime, the locomotive was supplied with water and everything was prepared for it to change direction back to the starting point. The journey back would have no stops.

We had a look at the map and reviewed the circuit we had just covered. We had been pleased to go back to the days that had such a strong influence on the life of these peoples. Today, modern times demand that journeys must be as short as possible. Unfortunately, they might be less enjoyable too.

See also: Hotels in Valdivia and other accommodation venues