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TRAIN to the CLOUDS:

From the train station of Salta in an unforgettable trip,this is the third train in the world in height with 4.200m. This extraordinary engineering master piece has 19 tunnels, 20 bridges, 2 locks and 2 zigzag framed in a landscape of indescribable beauty. The journey goes by “Campo Quijano”, “Quebrada del Toro”, the Alisal and for the stations “Puerta de Tastil”,”Meseta”, “Diego de Almagro”and “Mina Concordia”, to continue until the viaduct of Polvorilla. In the return will do a stop in “San Antonio de los Cobres”, being this the third and last stop of the journey. The train has living room dining room, bar and infirmary. Return to Salta Station and transfer to the Hotel.
This impressive unique work of engineering deserves to tell its HISTORY and the engineer that build it: Richard Maury. After having studied in Philadelphia and New York, he received a diploma of engineer in 1902, having worked in the railroads of Cuba, he arrived at Argentina in 1906. He worked in the renovation of some roads of Buenos Aires and one year later began, under the presidency of Hipólito Irigoyen, a career of prestige with the project of integration of four nations of the south cone: Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia and Chile. It was his last one, the most beautiful piece in his work. After overcoming the 4.500 mts. of the mountain range, he gave to light one of the most astonishing trains in the world. A true prowess and development of the creative spirit of Maury in a time that the diggers didn't exist.
The communications among human groups residents of both sides of the Andes, begining several centuries ago before the construction of the railroad. The prehispanic towns practiced diverse forms of commercial and cultural contact. The appearance of the railroad changed substantially the line of communications of the northwest. The train brings all toward Rosario's and Buenos Aires Port. For this reason, they got lost ports and markets in the Pacific Ocean. But the true guilty was not the railroad but the particular conception with it had been designed, and very soon the northerners realized the great potential that the train had to recover the old routes.
12 March of 1921, the news becomes public: the president of the Nation, Hipólito Irigoyen, prepares the executive decree to beginning the execution of the works. The construction was a hard campagne: it was necessary to work more than 3500 mts., in a rigorous weather with strong snow. And all that, with the few available tools in those times: shovel, pick, hoe, wheelbarrow and explosive.
The works began at extraordinary rhythm in May 10, 1921. The work team didn't have repairs in making braveer the challenge with impossible technical conditions as not using zipper, neither bigger slopes to 2,5%. and would be allowed the curves with more than 120 radio meters, and the structures should be prepared to receive bigger weight on the roads. To make it reality, Maury was designated the boss of the project.
The magnitude of the work and the brightness of its solutions justify that Maury rests in the middle of center of Campo Quijano, few meters from the train pass and that he didn't see in motion, but he dared to imagine.
It had help of a team of first level specialists that they will be in the memory of this geste. Neither the thousands of “Criollos” workers and foreigners that worked in the construction during decades will be forgotten. After 11 years of arduous work in November7, 1932 is inaugurated the today famous viaduct The Polvorilla, but the engineer Maury it could not appreciatethe qualification of their more daring conception. Two years before, for the government's of the General Uriburu decision, it had been separated from the work and itwas almost paralyzed until ends of the decade. Newly in 1941 the first train runs with minerals from the station Olacapato. Reestablished the constitutional order, the President Juan Domingo Perón gives a new impulse to the work, and in January of 1948, to the shade of the volcano “Socompa”, finally unites the roads fromArgentina to Chile. Soon, in February 20, 1948 (anniversary of the Battle of Salta), and with 27 years of hard work, it is officially inaugurated.
Today is the only rail which communicate Argentina with Chile and with the pacific market. This engineering work is considered not only for its layout, but rather also for the enormous beauty that surrounds it. It is the reason that around 28 thousand passengers per year elevate their body, their spirit and they touch the sky with their hands.