Ferronor


Ferronor is a Chilean railway company operating on the old Red Norte of Empresa de los Ferrocarriles del Estado, which was privatised in 1997. Since 2004 the primary shareholder is APCO.
Currently Ferronor owns a railway network of about, consisting of a main line between La Calera and Iquique and various spur lines. However, about 60% of the railway network are currently unused due to damage like landslides, washouts and rail theft. Ferronor mostly transports mining supplies and products.
Ferronor transports 7,000,000 tonnes of iron ore concentrate, 900,000 tonnes of salt, 290,000 tonnes of copper concentrate, 530,000 tonnes of sulfuric acid, 230,000 tonnes of copper cathodes and 35,000 tonnes of fuel annually. Other railway operators transport 2,200,000 tonnes of freight on Ferronor lines annually.

Diego de Almagro division

Vallenar division

The Vallenar division connects the Los Colorados iron ore mine with the harbor at Huasco. It consists of a branch which connects the mine with the Longitudinal Norte north of Vallenar, which is then used southward to Vallenar. A further branch line then provides the link from Vallenar to Huasco.

Baquedano division

The Baquedano division used to transport natural gas via Palestina and the Socompa pass to Argentina. This traffic ceased in 2006, after two Ferronor locomotives were damaged in an accident in Argentina and the Argentinian operator Belgrano Cargas initially refused to repair and return the locomotives. The locomotives have since been repaired and returned to service for Ferronor, but traffic over the Socompa pass has not been resumed to date.
Ferronor also owns various steam locomotives and other historic rolling stock, which is on display in an open-air "museum" at Baquedano. However, most of the locomotives are stored outside without any protection and are in very bad condition.

Locomotives

This is an incomplete list of locomotives used by Ferronor.
Ferronor no.TypeOrder no.Year builtPrevious ownersCommentsPictures
71 - 72EMD G18U710938, 7109391968Andes Copper Mining Co.
73EMD SW1200Codelco
81 - 82EMD G12701651, 7016521957Andes Copper Mining Co., Codelco
83EMD G127019541959Andes Copper Mining Co.
91 - 93EMD GR12U710341 - 7103531965Codelco
94EMD G22CU1971CodelcoOrdered by FCAB for Codelco to circumvent US export restrictions
401 - 419EMD GR12U700190 - 7002081961 - 1962EFE Dt 13001 - 13019
420EMD GR12U
421 - 423EMD GR12U700209 - 700211CAP
424 - 426EMD GR12U710550 - 710552CAP
601EMD GT26CUFCCA
4601 - 4606EMD GT46AC2013

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