EFVM_01_gif.jpg	Because of the limitations imposed by metre gauge traction motors most of EFVM's modern power is carried on 8 axles. This is an EMD four axle truck developed for the DDM45 built by EMD in 1970...
EFVM_02_gif.jpg	...GE's answer to the problem are these articulated span bolster trucks, here under a BB40-9WM. Above the frames both the DDM45s and BB40-9WM are almost indistinguishable from their US cousins.
EFVM_03.jpg	Fazenao station on the Fabrica branch. A brace of GE's including one of the ex-Conrail Dash 7s bought from Norfolk Southern or CSX awaiting their next duty...
EFVM_04.jpg	...BB40-9WM is sitting on the wye.
EFVM_05.jpg	Costa Lacerda is the junction between the Fabrica branch and the mainline to Belo Horizonte. Here is Dash-9 1202 in the yard...
EFVM_06.jpg	...the engineer is awaiting 1202s next duty.
EFVM_07.jpg	Dash-9 1221 and DDM45 868 setting off en-route to Vitoria with a mixed train of box wagons (possibly containing wheat or soya) and stone carrying hoppers.
EFVM_08.jpg	The height difference between the box cars, built to a composite loading gauge, and the DDM45 of US dimensions, is very noticeable.
EFVM_09.jpg	The Costa Lacerda yard. The trio on the left are a pair of 40 year old G16s sandwiching a Ferrovias Centro-Atlantica GM GT26 built in Brazil by Villares.
EFVM_10.jpg	A DDM45, still sporting it's original CVRD eagle emblem livery at Dois Irmãos, on the new line from Belo Horizonte to Costa Lacerda...
EFVM_11.jpg	...which replaced an old Central of Brazil (EFCB) line which EFVM inherited.
EFVM_12.jpg	The new line opened in 1998, requiring some spectacular viaducts.
EFVM_13.jpg	The DDM45 and Dash-9 are on a train of 80 soy bean or wheat hoppers bound for Vitoria for export, probably originating on the FCA and delivered to the EFVM at Horto Forestal yard in B Horizonte. 
EFVM_14.jpg	Another Dash 9 on the 100km Fabrica branch (built in the early 1970s) with coking coal bound for the Acominas steel mill at Ouro Branco.
EFVM_15.jpg	The Fabrica line traverses some spectacular scenery. Here a p.w. trolley heads westward towards Timbopeba
EFVM_16.jpg	Steel slab, bloom and coils are also moved by the railway. Here a train from Acominas at Ouro Branco is leaving Fazenao...
EFVM_17.jpg	...and approaching the MG-129 over bridge east of Cartas Altas...
EFVM_18.jpg	...7489 is an ex-B36-7 bought secondhand from the US and re-bogied with the span bolster trucks
EFVM_19.jpg	The sound of a pair of EMD 20 cylinder 645E3 is pretty unforgettable. These two DDM45s were struggling with 2500 tonnes of coking coal bound for Acominas. 860 is in the second style of livery with CVRD in bold on the nose, whilst 849 still sports the eagle scheme.
EFVM_20.jpg	And yet another train bound for Fabrica or Ouro Branco. DDM45 837 leads Dash-9 1118 and another DDM45...  
EFVM_21.jpg	...on a train of finished steel products from Usiminas near Intendente Câmara. Presumably bound for interchange with the FCA or MRS Logistica.
EFVM_22.jpg	Today the yard trio (G16/GT26/G16) were busy on a train of wood from the loading facility west of Costa Lacerda village on the former EFCB line to B Horizonte.
EFVM_23.jpg	A close up of the work stained G16 631, an EMD product from 1966
EFVM_24.jpg	740 has an interesting history. Built by Villares for the EFVM, specifically for the EFCB line through to B Horizonte over which the full size DDM45s and Dash-8s and 9s were barred. It was transferred to fellow CVRD controlled FCA but appears to be back on home territory at the moment.
EFVM_25.jpg	The timber looks a trifle exotic to temperate zone eyes.
EFVM_26.jpg	More coal for Acominas heading on to the Fabrica branch at Costa Lacerda...
EFVM_27.jpg	...after 80 cars (6400 tonnes) BB40-9MW 1227 was the mid train helper. A further 160 empty hoppers trailled 1227.
EFVM_28.jpg	Within a few minutes another BB40-9MW/DDM45 lash up approached Costa Lacerda with loaded iron ore from the mines around Gongo Soco... 
EFVM_29.jpg	...behind the two locomotives stretched 160 ore hoppers weighing (I estimate) 12,800 tonnes.
EFVM_30.jpg	The previous train halted in the yard to await the passage of this. Another 160 ore cars, this time behind a pair of BB40-9MWs, exiting the Fabrica branch...
EFVM_31.jpg	...and this is car 160, weighing just over 80 tonnes
EFVM_32.jpg	On the Costa Lacerda turntable an ex-NS B36-7 sits, still sporting the NS Thoroughbred livery. Now a BB36-7 it was accompanied by the yard trio, who had stopped for lunch.
EFVM_33.jpg	Another ex-Conrail (by way of NS) acquisition. BB36-7 718 still sports CR livery. Again the height difference when compared to EMD export models is noticeable.
EFVM_34.jpg	Sitting out the weekend were two DDM45s. 836 is in the current livery...
EFVM_35.jpg	...whilst 809 still sports the classic Eagle look,...
EFVM_36.jpg	...the old style lettering...
EFVM_37.jpg	...and a very worm EMD builders plate.
EFVM_38.jpg	After lunch the yard trio set off for the timber loading point with a long train of empties...
EFVM_39.jpg	...watched over by a brakeman as it passed slowly through the small village of Costa Lacerda...
EFVM_40.jpg	...which is completely cut off whilst any movements are carried out. The motor bike was there for almost 15 minutes whilst the switching went on.
EFVM_41.jpg	Also in Costa Lacerda village is a ballast loading point. 718 is at the head of a small train of ballast hoppers being loaded by a JCB.
EFVM_42.jpg	And finally. During a tropical shower 864 passed Dois Irmãos with a train of stone.
EFVM_37a.jpg	With the DDM45 in full cry 12,800 tonnes of iron ore gets on the move, heading for Vitoria