Uyuni Railway Scrap Yard

The Uyuni Railway Scrap Yard is a sprawling collection of over 100 train cars and locomotives at various stages of deterioration scattered across an open site near the town's station. The metal bodies show the effects of desert exposure and rust, creating a tangible record of the railway's past operations.

The site originated in the early 1900s when British-made locomotives were abandoned following the collapse of the local mining and transportation industries. These machines had powered the region's railway network for decades before becoming surplus to the changing economic needs.

Local artists use the rusted train cars as canvases for colorful murals, turning the abandoned site into an outdoor gallery in the desert landscape. These painted surfaces give the location a vibrant character that draws photographers and travelers seeking something different.

The scrap yard is situated several kilometers from central Uyuni and remains accessible throughout the day for self-guided exploration of the collection. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended since the ground is uneven and the dry environment means the terrain is quite dusty underfoot.

Salt-laden winds from the neighboring Salar de Uyuni salt flat accelerate the metal's corrosion dramatically, creating distinctive deep rust patterns across the trains. This specific process gives the site a visual character unlike other abandoned railway yards elsewhere.