Argentine Quebracho 4-6-0 Locomotives in Argentina

Class 2 (Locobase 13781)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University, Volume 36, p. 320. See also Andrew Graham-Yooli, "La Forestal", Buenos Aires Herald, in tales of pampas past; the British in Argentina: end of empire [] and Guillermo Gallo Mendoza, "Una Breve Historia de uno de los saqueos de recursos naturales perpetrado en Argentina por 'Ilustres' ciudadanos nativos y de los otros" from [], both last accessed 24 January 2012. Works numbers were 35942-35943 in January 1911.

La Forestal Land, Timber and Railways Company operated the Argentine Quebracho, which was named after the principal, and really only, product they sold - red quebracho hardwood, a slow-growing tree in the northern part of Argentina in an area called cuna boscosa (the woodland wedge). Producers extracted tannin used in leather making. By the mid-teens, the internationally flavored La Forestal was the largest exporter of tannin and the logs themselves.

According to Frederic Halsey in his survey of Latin America, quebracho means "ax breaker" Even in the 21st century, many railways prefer this wood for their sleepers. Note too that the specification called for burning "hard wood" in the firebox - most likely red quebracho.

Graham-Yooli commented that such ventures often have several histories: ""La Forestal" has an official company history, and a nationalistic history. Now, in the light of changing capitalism and corporate pursuits and globalization, there is also the let's-look-back-and see-what-really-happened history. " Many Argentine historians recall the series of strikes against La Forestal beginning in 1919, the third of which was repressed "savagely" in 1921 by Argentine troops at the cost of hundreds of lives.