Linking North and South America by Rail

[cacole]

There have been several government overthrows in central and south America since this rail line was first proposed, and some of the existing lines were probably nationalized in the process.

A recent program from the U.K. called "Great Railway Journeys" outlines the trials and tribulations of the reporter trying to get to the southern tip of Patagonia by rail, only to learn that many of the rail lines have been abandoned by the government and trains no longer run on many of the existing lines.

In short, several central and south American governments have abandoned rail.

 

[Murphy Siding]

Wizlish

 

 

wanswheel

1903 article from American Druggist and Pharmaceutical Record The All-Americas Railroad

 

 

The cavalier routing of some of the little railroad tracks on that map near takes my breath away!

Part of the "5000 miles to Cuzco" section appears to pass close to the west end of the runways for the best location for an orbital port, east (and considerably above) Quito, Ecuador.  Be interesting to see the helper power that would be used.

The straight transAndean links would be interesting, too, considering how a couple of them were built as standalone lines.

 

The rail lines shown seem to be crossing over, or riding the ridge of most every major mountain range in the Americas.  When I was very young, someone my parents knew died in a plane crash om Mt. Saint Elias in southeast Alaska.  The crash site probably would be on the rail line drawn on the map.  The bodies were never recovered, because they were something like 12 or 15 thousand feet up the mountain.

[Murphy Siding]

Sam-

The map of the highway gave me a good chuckle, as I truely don't believe the segment going to Prudhoe bay exists.

     I know that there are products that could ship between the Americas by train.  I'm just kind of doubting that anything that would/could ship by train over that route could be time sensitive enough to warrant paying the higher price of rails over ocean waters.  It's the same doubts that come up in the semi-annual North America to Asia thread.  You can ship stuff on the train, but is there an advantage to shipping it by train? 

    

[Wizlish]

wanswheel

1903 article from American Druggist and Pharmaceutical Record The All-Americas Railroad

The cavalier routing of some of the little railroad tracks on that map near takes my breath away!

Part of the "5000 miles to Cuzco" section appears to pass close to the west end of the runways for the best location for an orbital port, east (and considerably above) Quito, Ecuador.  Be interesting to see the helper power that would be used.

The straight transAndean links would be interesting, too, considering how a couple of them were built as standalone lines.

[samfp1943]

Murphy Siding

Lack of any key product needing shipping that is time sensitive enough to preclude using what must be a lot cheaper ocean going boats?

 

Murphy Siding;

   Trying to remember my College Geography lessons.  I seem to remember when it was first proposed back in the 1930's, The Pan American Convention routing was to be built as a railroad. Obviously, that idea did not get very far.

  I think that the treaty for the completion of the route was signed in the last of 1936 in Buenos Aires(?) and was to study and construct a land route/highway from the United States to Tierra del Fuego. 

       Here is a recent map (with photos) that shows the route of the Pan American Highway from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska to Tierra Del Fuego,Argentina.. @ http://mentalfloss.com/article/57218/all-american-road-trip-18-stops-pan-american-highway

There is still a gap at the Panama Canal ( Darien Gap) but according to information, the route has been legislated to be complete except fo the Gap in Panama which requires a ferry ride, and includes by legislation the entire US Interstate Highway system. 

Tomaybe, answer Murphy Siding's question about commerce: Produce would be one, furniture, another, clothing(?).. and then there are the obvious illegal activities that have markets in the USA.    And with the open borders we now seem to have maybe AMTRAK could sell lots of tickets, I am certain the people making the trip from Central Amaerica, would pay for seats INSIDE the trains; rather than on top of the freight cars they currently utilize for their trip. 

    Maybe an HSR line would be safer than on top of a mixed train?       Surely, that would offer Mexican outlaws fewer opportunities to ply their trades?

  

[wanswheel]

 

 

 

 

1903 article from American Druggist and Pharmaceutical Record

The All-Americas Railroad

The most gigantic railroad scheme ever contemplated, of far greater magnitude than the Trans-Siberian Railway or even the Cape-to-Cairo line, has been revived and active steps are now being taken toward its realization. The project contemplates nothing less than connecting the vast railway systems of the United States with those of the South American republics, thereby affording a through rail service from New York and other trade centers of North America to the southernmost points reached by the South American railroads. In fact, if the great Pan-American system becomes a reality, it will be possible to travel or send freight from New York or other points across two continents, possibly without change of cars, to the most southern points in South America, for both Argentine and Chili are now building southward to Cape Horn.

Andrew Carnegie has become actively interested in the undertaking, the accomplishment of which would mean so much in developing our trade relations with South America. That he is in earnest is shown by the fact that he has offered to pay the expenses of a Pan-American commissioner to visit various South American republics to secure their co-operation, and should the South Americans receive the project favorably Mr. Carnegie agrees to finance the scheme of a Pan-American railway and raise the sum required to construct the necessary connecting links of railroad between New York and Buenos Ayres. The total distance between these two cities is about 10,000 miles, of which fully 5,000 miles remain to be built, or a distance in itself as great as the entire length of the Trans-Siberian Railway.

Some 13 years ago the project was taken up by James G. Blaine, who was then Secretary of State. A Pan-American Congress was held at Washington and Mr. Blaine worked indefatigably to put the plan through. This Government appropriated $360,000 for surveys which were made, but after Mr. Blaine's death little if any progress was made until last year when, at the Pan-American Congress at the City of Mexico, it was recommended that the United States take the initiative and carry out the recommendations made by that congress. Secretary Hay has accordingly just appointed Charles M. Pepper a special commissioner to the South American republics and Mr. Carnegie has agreed to defray the expenses of this investigation. It is a singular coincidence that A. J. Cassatt, who was chairman of the first Pan-American Congress in 1890, is now president of the Pennsylvania Railroad, which has a mileage exactly equal to the distance from New York to Buenos Ayres, and which will form the first section of the through route of the proposed Pan-American Railway.

Some progress has been made on the intercontinental railroad since the United States surveys were made, and it will soon be possible to travel by direct train from New York to Ayutla, on the border of Guatemala, a distance of about 3,700 miles. From that point to Cuzco in the mountains of southern Peru, however, some 5,000 miles of railroad will have to be built.

The American Druggist has already called attention to the opportunities for trade in South America, from the druggists' standpoint and It requires no argument to show the vast importance of such a Pan-American railway as a factor in increasing commerce with the South American republics.

The United States imports from Central and South America at present amount to about $120,000,000, or, approximately, 14 per cent of our total imports, while our exports to those countries amount only to some $52,000,000, or 10 per cent of their imports. Mexico, on the other hand, owing to her railway connections, sends to the United States fully 70 per cent of her exports and imports from this country goods of an equal value.

Extensive as is the present project for an intercontinental railway, the route of which is shown in the accompanying map, there is reason to believe that by the time it is completed, the system will be much more extensive. As already noted, both Argentine and Chili are building railroads southward to the Cape; Canada is also constructing a line to Alaska, which American capital may extend further north, possibly to meet the railroad already being built southward from Cape Nome. A few years hence, therefore, America may have a cape-to-cape railway some 15,000 miles in length.

The cost of constructing the necessary links in the proposed Pan-American railway is estimated at $200,000,000, which is, approximately, the cost of the Trans-Siberian Railway, and it will probably take ten years to build these connecting links. At an average speed of 25 miles an hour, it is reckoned that it will take some 17 days and nights to make the trip from New York to Buenos Ayres.

[eagle1030]

The Pan-American Highway, a network of major roadways from Alaska to Argentina, actually has a 60 mile break in Panama.  Not the Canal, but swamps, wetlands, and impossible conditions to build and maintain a road. If a road can't get through, rail would be even more cost-prohibitive. 

[BastaTim]

Don't forget we will have to crazies saying this is just another ploy for American Imperialism.

[Murphy Siding]

Lack of any key product needing shipping that is time sensitive enough to preclude using what must be a lot cheaper ocean going boats?

[GP-9_Man11786]

We've had a few threads about brdiging the Bering Straight and linking North America and Asia by rail. But what about linking North and South America by rail? Would that be feasable? Would there ever be a market for such a link?

Some of the obstacles would be:

1. Railroads in most of the Central American countries are narrow gauge and either badly run-down or abandoned completly.

2. A bridge accross the Panama Canal. My gues is this would need to be a very large bascule bridge.

3. Ongoing violence and unrest in Columbia.

4. Gauge breaks.

Any other obsticles?