When the first steam locomotives thundered down the rails of Ecuador in the late 19th century, the natives were understandably terrified. Most fled, while others left gifts of corn on the tracks to appease the beast. Engines such as old Number 45 became known collectively as the black monster, haunting the dreams of small children. Engineering feat in the world. In one stretch of just over seven miles, they devised a scheme to ascend more than 2600 feet, through a series of acrobatic zig-z.

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