The Valdivian Train - Railway Heritage
Description: "The Valdivian" is a journey that unites rivers, forests and tradition on train that used to traverse the distance from Valdivia to Antilhue on a daily basis, to join there with the passenger cars coming from Puerto Montt to reach the "Capital", always characterized by the intense social life of the period and for its original and spicy food.
Huellelhue and Pishuinco stations currently invite to brief detentions as part of the ritual of the steam locomotive: the supply of water for the boiler; then, then train approaches our mythical destination: Antilhue.
This tourist activity is carried out by the Chilean Association for the Railway Heritage Conservation of Valdivia together with the State Railway Company - EFE - and makes the round journey between Valdivia and Antilhue. The driving machine is a model 57, number 620, belonging to the State Railway Company of Chile, and was manufactured by the Company of Arsenals and Galvanizing back in 1913, with a wheel configuration of 2 – 6 – 0, and a track gauge of 1676 mm. The Linke Hofmann coaches arrived from Germany in 1920.
The Valdivian train departs from the central railway station in the city of Valdivia located in 2500 Ecuador Ave., and it's headed by an old steam locomotive followed by four passenger cars and one dining car. It is a journey of 28 kilometers (18 mi) that integrates the city and rural landscapes as it did in the past.
While holding the tickets in your hand and standing on the platform you can see the final details of the preparation of the locomotive, which includes several pumping movements in the steam boiler for the temperature to reach the desired point. A white mist fills the air at once in a unique moment; then the classic 
sound of the whistle sets things into motion. This was an important land transport system in those days when the routes we see today did not exist and where villages used to develop from the railway stations that joined them with more important urban settlements.
The itinerary allows contemplating the Calle Calle river, extremely green woods and small villages that follow one another. The train stops at two stations in the way: Huellelhue and Pishuinco, for about 10 minutes in each, to finally reach Antilhue where the tour ends; there, the passengers can enjoy for a few hours the local customs fair specially prepared for them and then grab a bite of a specialty, among the many offered, by the local cuisine, featuring their best dishes such as: empanadas, calzones rotos, sopaipillas, cakes, craft beer, tortillas and maize and peach drink. In the meantime, the engine is provisioned of water and turns its direction back on the turntable to begin its return to the starting point at 17:00 h with no stops.
On a map you can review the circuit covered and feel the pleasure of going back to the days that deserve to be remembered for their influence on the lives of these people. Today, modern times demand that journeys must be as short as possible and, perhaps, due to that they are less enjoyable.
Schedule: Departure: 12:00 - Return: 17:00 h. January 31, February on every Sunday, March 6
Value: Tickets are sold on Prat Ave. between Pedro de Valdivia bridge and River Market. The fare is 8.000.- CLP per person.
More information: Phone: (63) 2 578 259; Cel. 9-74088206
E-mail:
Videos: Tren Valdiviano
Webs: http://www.fesur.cl/
Activities: train journey; photography, food and beverage experience, local customs fair