Train at the End of the World

Gotta love that moment when all the elements come together for a perfect photograph.

I still remember standing in the station — marveling in all the shapes being formed by the train smoke.

My wife and I had just gone for a scenic ride across the Tierra del Fuego region of Patagonia aboard El Tren del Fin del Mundo. Aka, the Train of the End of the World.

We had plenty of time at the train station in Ushuaia, Argentina, as we had no kids, no plans, and nothing to do except enjoy the moment.

“I really need something else to take this photo to the next level,” I thought.

So, I did as photographers do … I waited.

A few minutes later, the photography genie granted my wish.

From ordinary to extraordinary. 

Thank you, train workers, for so graciously walking through my scene and making this photo into one of my all-time favs!

About the Train

The Southern Fuegian Railway (Spanish: Ferrocarril Austral Fueguino (FCAF)) or the Train of the End of the World (Spanish: El Tren del Fin del Mundo) is a 500 mm (19+3⁄4 in) gauge steam railway in Tierra del Fuego Province, Argentina.

It was originally built as a freight line to serve the prison of Ushuaia, specifically to transport timber. It now operates as a heritage railway into the Tierra del Fuego National Park and is considered the southernmost functioning railway in the world.¹