The Uyuni Train Cemetery
In September, 2016, I visited the town of Uyuni, Bolivia, to take a tour on the nearby salt flats. Part of that tour includes a stop at the local train cemetery. Train cemetery? You bet! There are dozens of locomotives, cars, and parts laying out in the high altiplano, quietly rusting away. This, I had to see.
I arrived in Uyuni in the mid-afternoon, with plans to take the salt flat tour the following morning. I knew the train cemetery would be a brief stop, and I wanted more time to check it out. So, after eating a late lunch, I walked from Uyuni to the train cemetery. Follow the tracks out-of-town, and you eventually get there. It’s a desolate place with stray dogs, litter, and of course, the rusting trains. I arrived late in the afternoon, and took quite a few photos as the sun went down. My initial plan had been to stay after dark, but I decided to head back around sunset — I was cold, and the police were watching the area. I figured they’d ask me to leave anyway, so I walked back as the sun set.
Here are some photos from the late afternoon at the train cemetery:
Uyuni Train Cemetery, Bolivia
View Through a Destroyed Passenger Car, Uyuni Train Cemetery, Bolivia
Uyuni Train Cemetery, Bolivia
Ribs of a Boxcar, Uyuni Train Cemetery, Bolivia
Tanker Car With Graffiti, Uyuni Train Cemetery, Bolivia
Tanker Car With Graffiti, Uyuni Train Cemetery, Bolivia
View Through a Rusted Out Passenger Car, Uyuni Train Cemetery, Bolivia
Graffiti, Uyuni Train Cemetery, Bolivia
Uyuni Train Cemetery, Bolivia
Tanker Car Graffiti, Uyuni Train Cemetery, Bolivia
Locomotive, Uyuni Train Cemetery, Bolivia
Locomotive, Uyuni Train Cemetery, Bolivia
View Through a Boxcar, Uyuni Train Cemetery, Bolivia
The next morning, our tour group stopped at the train cemetery. It was less spooky with the brighter light:
Posting For Photos, Uyuni Train Cemetery, Bolivia
Locomotive, Uyuni Train Cemetery, Bolivia
Locomotive, Uyuni Train Cemetery, Bolivia
Steam Boiler, Uyuni Train Cemetery, Bolivia
Steam Boiler, Uyuni Train Cemetery, Bolivia
Locomotive, Uyuni Train Cemetery, Bolivia
Locomotive, Uyuni Train Cemetery, Bolivia
Locomotive, Uyuni Train Cemetery, Bolivia
This is one of the coolest things I’ve seen in a long time!
“you eventually get there”
How long is “eventually?” An hour? Two hours?
Dave
About 30 minutes from the center of Uyuni. You could take a cab from town, but you’d have to pay them to wait while you look around.