High in the Andean Puna of northern Argentina, General Belgrano Railroad's C-14 line climbs from the City of Salta to Socompa, international border town with the Republic of Chile, reaching the salt flats and desertic landscape of the Puna 4.600 meter high above sea level. To reach the summit of the Andes the meter-gauge line goes through 22 tunnels, two switchbacks, two loops and a myriad of sharp curves. The first loop in the uphill ride from Salta is this one, where the track crosses over itself in the bridge at left after having made a complete loop around the hill. GM-EMD GT22CU #9702, built in La Grange in 1972 and member of a group of 20 units ordered specially for this remote and rugged line, helped replace 2-10-2 steam locomotives and so finish steam operations over the line for good. Number 9702 ended its days after a runaway wreck close to Socompa station, being scrapped on site and leaving its remnants scattered in the barren and lonesome highness of the Andean Range.
