Central Asian Railway - The Most Picturesque Railway in South America

The Andes are one of the longest and highest mountain systems on our planet. This is a region with a harsh climate, stunningly beautiful nature and a thousand-year history. And in these amazing mountains is located one of the most incredible railways in the world - the Central Andanese road to Peru.

The construction of the first railway in Peru began in 1851, and the first branch with a length of 13.7 kilometers was laid between Lima and the port of Callao. The railway network was to serve as an impetus for the development of the country's mining industry, and its main purpose was to ensure the delivery of ore from deposits located in the depths of Peru, as well as the uninterrupted supply of miners with food. Of greatest importance was the delivery of goods from lead mines located in La Oroya and Cerro de Pasco.

The Polish engineer Ernest Malinovsky was engaged in the design of the high mountain sections of the Central Andian road, and the construction of the road leading deep into the Andes lasted from the 1860s to 1908. It was a difficult construction campaign, which was accompanied by periodic stops in financing, death of workers due to death fever and considerable engineering difficulties associated with tunneling and bridge construction.

By the time the construction was completed, the Central Asian Road, which connected several high-altitude mines and settlements, had 61 bridges and 65 tunnels. In terms of engineering characteristics, this was a truly unique project, which has no equal in the world so far. The highest station on the Central Asian Road is the Tiklio junction, located at an altitude of 4,818 meters above sea level.

After completion of the main works, the road was completed and modified, and at the moment, the length of the Central Asian railway track in the highland part of Peru is 535 kilometers. The road is not electrified and is accessible only to diesel locomotives. Ore is transported from the mining enterprises of the region, as well as a hundred years ago, as well as tourist trains, tickets for which are in great demand among travelers visiting Peru.