This trip is sure to open many eyes, as it's a south-of-the-border railfan trip, near Reynosa, Mexico, that just sort of "happened," as it was a

After we crossed into Mexico, via the only rope-pull ferry operating on the U.S. border, yeah, guys are pulling this thing across the river by hand, we arrived in the Mexican town of Los Ebanos, named for the ebony trees that grow on the nearby Rio Grande river. We were hungry and could not find any decent places to eat, so we decided to head to the bustling city of Reynosa, about 40 km (we're in Mexico, so we use metric!) to find a place to eat.

We headed east along Mexico Federal Highway 2 and, low and behold, we spotted an eastbound sitting on the main line.  I asked my friend Jerry to stop, so I could get some photos. There was a very convenient dirt crossing about 100 meters east of the lead unit that we could park at safely.

 

Photos:  T.F.M. #2266 leads a eastbound mixed freight at km 232, about 20 km east of Reynosa.

So we stopped, at km post 232 and took pictures.  It seems that T.F.M.  #2266  had problems and the crew had just fixed the troubles (I never knew what the problem was) and they were waiting to leave.  Shortly after we arrived, they left, eastbound toward Reynosa, about 20 km away.

Left:  The second unit in the consist shows her colors.   Right: The train is a merchandise train, consisting of boxcars and covered hopper cars.

We didn't really "chase" them into Reynosa, as we had another agenda (food) and the highway traffic didn't permit the safe "chasing" of a train.  As we entered Reynosa, we saw #2266 slowing down and entering the yard.

That was the last we saw of them, as we found a restaurant and filled our stomachs.

Left:  Yes, they do use f.r.e.d.s. on the rear of trains, in Mexico.  Right:  A railroad crossing sign, in Spanish.

This made up for the train that I missed a few days earlier, as we toured the town of Rio Bravo.  It seemed that I was photographing a corn vendor and failed to appreciate the fact that at T.F.M. freight was approaching.   Missed opportunity...oh well...  By the way, all photos were taken by my friend Jerry Flinn.