The Andes rank as the world’s longest uninterrupted mountain range, extending over 4,000 miles parallel to the wet coast of South America. With summits up to 20,000 ft. they act as a barrier separating the Pacific seaports from the mineral riches of Argentina, Chile, Peru and Bolivia. Few areas of the world can be less promising for the aspiring railway builder … added to the problems of topography are extremes of climate, regular geological instability, and continuous political turmoil. So the history of the railways here is a thrilling saga of man’s technological conquest of a colossal geographical barrier .. a triumph of engineering skill and ingenuity over formidable natural obstacles.

Brian Fawcett came to South America as a young man of 17, and spent almost a quarter of a century in the service of the Central Railway of Peru. His duties gave him a unique insight into the workings of that great railroad – which scales the highest railway summit in the world at 15,848 ft. – and also enabled him to collect information, hitherto unpublished, about other Andean railroads. The result was “Railways of the Andes”, the first major English-language survey of the planning, construction and operation of the major Andean railroads.

First published in 1963, this new edition incorporates Fawcett’s original text, plus a new preface and introduction. 122 illustrations and 6 maps.

Review by Andrew Neale appeared in issue 121.