Ramal Talca - Constitución para fanáticos de los trenes Si se queda en González Bastías, visite su plaza, la Casona del Poeta, su tranquila playa de río y la Viña González Bastías. Encontrará restaurantes de comida típica chilena. En el tramo entre González Bastías y Constitución, el paisaje cambia, con un fuerte dominio de plantaciones forestales, pero en los sectores que se forman a orillas del río Maule, es posible distinguir álamos y sauces. A partir de esta estación, la vía férrea correrá paralela al Río Maule. Prepare su cámara fotográfica para sacar las mejores tomas del río. At km 43,5 we´ll reach González Bastías Station, formerly called Infiernillo; some say that the name was due to its dangerous rushing waters, and others say due to the heat felt in summer. After the death of González Bastías, the station was renamed in honor of the poet who never wrote a verse on the branchline. It is the only intermediate station operating as such. On its railways are the two bustrains which stop for 10 to 15 minutes, while the “venteras” offer their famous Bastías González “tortillas”, homemade bread, boiled eggs and tamales. Built between 1892 and 1897, is an adobe and wooden built station. In the station´s master office you can still find the devices from the old system of traffic control. There is also a wine cellar, and on the undercover platform, an old scale for weighing loaded freights. The station has two side tracks, one on each side of the main. The one located on the north side is not operational and is used as a parking site for old cars. Next to the station building, there are still two metallic elevated water tanks. The filling apparatus for locomotives (called water horse) was removed. Be sure to visit the manual type turntable, also operational, retaining the original manufacture registration (from 1891), registered under another traditional steam locomotive manufacturer: LEVER, MURPHY and CO., CALETA ABARCA. If you happen to stay at González Bastías visit the main square, the Casona del Poeta, the quiet river beach and Bastías González Vineyard. You´ll find typical Chilean food restaurants. In the stretch between González Bastías to Constitución, the landscape changes, with a strong domain of forest plantations, but in sectors that form on the Maule River banks one can distinguish poplars and willows. From this station onwards, the railway will run parallel to the Maule River. Prepare your camera to get the best shots of the river.
Siguiendo nuestro viaje, en el kilómetro 47,5 llegaremos a la Estación de Toconey, antiguamente llamada Tanguao. Los viajeros se confundían creyendo que aquí se encontraban los baños termales del mismo nombre y por eso se rebautizó con el nombre de Toconey.
Continuing our journey, at kilometer 47,5 we´ll reach Toconey Station, formerly called Tanguao. Travelers would get confused thinking that here were the hot springs of the same name and therefore renamed to Toconey.
RAMAL TALCA-CONSTITUCIÓN
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