Miraflores
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1 1 2 3 Santa Rosa a Rosa Cuatro Reinas 2
COSTA RICA
SAN JOSE Cartago
SAN JOSE
AN JOSE JOS E
Illustration by Otto M. Vondrak. Not all lines and stations shown. Not an official map. ©2017 White River Productions
making a sweeping curve to the east and up a steep 4 percent grade the tracks turn back west, rejoining the mainline to the Atlántico station. Outside of San Jose, trains also run
in and around Limon on the Caribbean coast, with passenger excursions geared to the cruise ship industry as well as steel and Dole containers from the port. On the Pacific side to Punta Arenas, the line sleeps except for the occasional maintenance gang. There’s still plenty of infrastructure remaining, including stations as well as the large steel arch bridge over the Rio Grande. There’s also a small museum near the town of Rio Grande, about 40 miles west of San Jose, with electric motor 127 on display.
Considerations for Travel With Incofer on the cusp of moderniza-
tion, the time for a visit is now. There are plenty of activities for the entire family,
including museums and well-maintained public parks in San Jose, as well as national parks, volcanoes, beaches and other eco-tourism sightseeing outside of the city. San Jose makes a logical start- ing or ending point for any trip to Costa Rica. The sight of a little locomotive with a string of narrow gauge coaches working upgrade through city streets is one that won’t be around forever. Costa Rica’s main airport is Juan Santamaría International (SJO) about 15 miles from downtown San Jose. It’s about a three-hour flight from Miami. American dollars are widely accepted, and visitors from the U.S. and Canada need a passport. San Jose is one of the safest large cities
in Latin America, but visitors must still exercise caution. Use the same attention you would in any large city. Self-driving is not advised, especial- ly at night, and anyone involved in an
accident can be jailed until claims are sorted out. Use only licensed taxis, which are painted red or orange with a triangle on the door. Four-star accommodations can
be found in the area of Calle 7 and Avenida Central (a pedestrian corri- dor) for about $90 a night. This puts visitors within walking distance of the Atlántico and Pacifico train stations. San Jose also recently installed street signs, so getting around without getting lost is not the challenge it was only a few years ago.
Pedestrians do not have the right of
way, so exercise caution when out on the street. Costa Rica has the reputation of being
one of the friendliest countries in Central America. The ticos (local residents) are helpful and happy to show off their trop- ical paradise. With plenty of family fun (and GE diesels), Costa Rica should be on your list of destinations when making plans for your next tropical vacation.
MICHAEL T. BURKHART, of Abington, Pa., is a contributing editor for RAILFAN & RAILROAD and also serves as vice pres- ident of the Wilmington Chapter NRHS. His interest in Caribbean and Latin American railways began with a visit to Puerto Rico nearly a decade ago in search of the island’s last freight operation.
LEFT: Incofer U11B 81 has arrived at the Atlántico station in San Jose with an early morning commuter train from the suburbs of Heredia. After a quick run-around, the consist will head back west. The city’s commuter trains are well-patronized as the busy station attests, but are operated on a shoestring budget. Some of the station platforms here are made from retired narrow gauge flatcars.
For detailed train schedules and fares, visit the Incofer web site at
www.incofer.go.cr 61
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Corte/Museum Plaza Viquez
Río Segundo BELEN San Joaquín de Flores
HEREDIA Metrópoli DEMASA Pecosa Pavas Jack’s AyA Sabana
Cementerio Contraloría
ESTACIÓN DEL P PACIFICO ESTACIÓN ATLÁNTICO UCR U Universidad Latina CFIA/Freses UACA/Cipreses Universidad Latina a TLÁNTICO
Tres Rios
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