The Train to the Clouds

Tren a las Nubes is a tourist railway in Salta Province, Argentina, running along the Belgrano Railway into the Andes.

American engineer Richard Maury designed the route with two zigzags to climb by driving back and forth.

The railway opened on that date after delays and pauses.

The track features 29 bridges, 21 tunnels and 13 viaducts. Maury treated straight lines as a personal insult.

Students filmed a steam locomotive trip in the early 1960s; cold air mixed with vapor formed plumes.

Ferrocarriles Argentinos adopted the documentary name to attract tourists.

Today the train covers a 44-kilometre portion between San Antonio de los Cobres and La Polvorilla viaduct.

The curved La Polvorilla viaduct stands 64 metres high—the line’s highest point.