Continuing on the train to Huancayo

As we continued on our way out of Lima, the buildings and the scent of burning garbage began to diminish. Steep and barren mountains began to appear from the smog of Lima as we entered the canyon and started to gain elevation on the primary route to Huancayo. It is hard to be sure if the steep slopes of the mountains were desert-like and barren because of the desert climate surrounding the Lima are or from the multitude of pollution that litters the sky around Lima had killed off all of the plants. Yet, this was still a definite improvement in scenery as I had become uncomfortably used to the sights of the city.

After a couple of hours of dozing on and off on the train and some substantial gain in elevation, the train came to a stop. I noticed a substantial change in the scenery. It was now much more green and the sky was becoming more clear. It began to remind me more and more of my roots in the mountains of Wyoming and Montana.

It didn't seem like anything out of the ordinary at first when we stopped, but then it was announced that the engineers had to use the emergency stop and that it might be some time before we restarted our voyage. To me, it seems that it was no accident that the emergency brake had to be used because after we stopped, the sides of the train were soon busy with local vendors selling food and beverage items. It seemed like they knew where and when the train was going to stop. After about an hour and a half, the train returned on it's journey.

Soon after we restarted our journey, we stopped again so that the engine of the train could be switched to the opposite end. They had to turn the engine completely around and this process is remarkably done manually only by a few men. It was quite unique to witness this remarkable but simple feat. It reminds you that advanced technology has not reached all parts of the globe and may not be necessary in all of those areas as well.

turning the train

After this process, we again restarted our journey to the summit of the pass and later on to Huancayo. Next time - more on the journey