The Guatemala City to Puerto Barrios passenger departs Sanarate. Only a few years prior this train would have been diesel hauled, but a shortage of cash for imported diesel spares forced first the American-owned International Railways of Central America (IRCA) then nationalized successor Ferrocarriles de Guatemala (FEGUA) to "steamize", returning long stored steam engines back to service. While the rust on the engine's smoke box reflects those problems, the track was still in first class condition, reflecting the once high maintenance standards of the IRCA (good surface and line, and note the spring loaded frog.) Thanks to Tom Moungovan for helping update the location info.....the memories are fading!
