The principal traffic was always nitrate, after which came fuel, passengers, perishables, parcels, general merchandise, and livestock. Water for the steam locomotives and the town relied on two wells at Dolores (see map),  from Pisagua, which today still derives its water from this source.
Nitrate was the primary commodity transported, with fuel, travelers, perishable items, packages, common merchandise, and animals coming next. The town's steam locomotives and residents relied on two wells in Dolores for their water supply, which originated from Pisagua.