Central Cabaiguan / Central Caracas / Central Carmita / Central Cieneguita / Central Cuba 2-6-0 Locomotives in Cuba


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class "Eden" (Locobase 14795)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 63, p. 372. Works number was 53704 and 53719 in September 1920.

Apparently the Central Cabaiguan couldn't take delivery of any of the locomotives it ordered in 1920. In this case the Central Carmita, located in Santa Clara Province, bought the two oil-burning plantatoin Consolidations.

After the Revolution, the Central Carmita was renamed as the Central Luis Arcos Bergnes.


Class 1 (Locobase 14401)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 54 p. 113+. Works number was 44440 in November 1916.

This plantation Mogul was the first locomotive for this brand-new Central, which harvested its first sugar crop (21,000 bags) in 1917. The mill was located about 335 km (208 miles) east of Havana, in the center of the island.


Class 1 (Locobase 15348)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 78, pp. 25+. Works number was 58800-58802 in October 1925.

About the only difference between this order and the several dozen others for Baldwin's 50-ton oil-burning plantation Mogul is the procurement of three at one time. It went to a Matanzas Province sugar mill about 150 km (93.2 mi) southeast of Havana.

After the 1959 Revolucion and expropriation, this Central was renamed Central Cuba Libre and the three 2-6-0s renumbered consecutively 1610-1612.


Class 4 (Locobase 13748)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 36, p. 209. Works numbers were 35132 in August 1910 and 42231 in August 1915.

Conditions and demands on a sugar plantation didn't change much unless the Central either grew or shrank dramatically. So when the Cieneguita ordered a new plantation Mogul ten years after the last one (Locobase 12565), the new engine had only an increase in boiler pressure and a 2 1/2 ton weight growth to rebalance the factor of adhesion.


Class 8 (Locobase 15415)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University, Vol 79, p.30+. Works number was 60212 in October 1927.

Of all the Baldwin Moguls delivered to Cuba over many decades, this plantation engine was perhaps the biggest. It had the biggest grate, most heating surface area, greatest engine weight, one of the largest fireboxes, and had one of the highest adhesion weights. Steam was admitted to the cylinders through 10" (254 mm) piston valves

After the 1959 Revolucion and expropriation, the Central Cuba was renamed Cuba Libre and the 8 was renumbered 1808.


Class Rogue Pug (Locobase 12050)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Vol 18, p. 105. Works number was 13141 in January 1893.

A later locomotive with almost certainly (but not definitely) the same dimensions for the boiler and firebox was bought by Galban for the Central Precioso in 1905. Works number was 26988 in December 1905. See DeGolyer, Volume 28, p. 153.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
Class"Eden"1148
Locobase ID14795 14401 15348 13748 15415
RailroadCentral CarmitaCentral CabaiguanCentral CubaCentral CieneguitaCentral Cuba
CountryCubaCubaCubaCubaCuba
Whyte2-6-02-6-02-6-02-6-02-6-0
Number in Class11321
Road Numbers1-211-3 / 1610-16124, 38 / 1808
GaugeStdStdStd2'6"Std
Number Built11321
BuilderBaldwinBaldwinBaldwinBaldwinBaldwin
Year19201916192519101927
Valve GearWalschaertStephensonWalschaertStephensonWalschaert
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)11.50 / 3.51 9.50 / 2.9011.50 / 3.51 9.33 / 2.8412 / 3.66
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)19.33 / 5.8917 / 5.1819.33 / 5.8915.50 / 4.7220.17 / 6.15
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.59 0.56 0.59 0.60 0.59
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)47.92 / 14.6144.25 / 13.4945.37 / 13.8337 / 11.2851.58 / 15.72
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)94,000 / 42,63883,500 / 37,87597,000 / 43,99942,000 / 19,051112,000 / 50,802
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)109,000 / 49,44298,500 / 44,679114,000 / 51,71048,000 / 21,772131,000 / 59,421
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)101,000 / 45,81370,000 / 31,75266,000 / 29,93727,600 / 12,519109,000 / 49,442
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)210,000 / 95,255168,500 / 76,431180,000 / 81,64775,600 / 34,291240,000 / 108,863
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)4500 / 17.053500 / 13.263000 / 11.361200 / 4.555000 / 18.94
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT)2200 / 83276 / 61200 / 45422000 / 7570
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)52 / 2646 / 2354 / 2723 / 11.5062 / 31
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)50 / 127048 / 121950 / 127036 / 91450 / 1270
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)160 / 1100160 / 1100180 / 1240150 / 1030175 / 1210
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)18" x 24" / 457x61017" x 24" / 432x61018" x 24" / 457x61013" x 18" / 330x45719" x 26" / 483x660
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)21,151 / 9593.9419,652 / 8914.0123,795 / 10793.2410,774 / 4887.0127,923 / 12665.67
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 4.44 4.25 4.08 3.90 4.01
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)219 - 2" / 51206 - 2" / 51219 - 2" / 51114 - 1.75" / 44260 - 2" / 51
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)11 / 3.3511 / 3.3511 / 3.35 8.27 / 2.5211.27 / 3.44
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)103 / 9.5795 / 8.83103 / 9.5749.70 / 4.62138 / 12.83
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)21.30 / 1.9819.30 / 1.7921.30 / 1.988 / 0.7427.50 / 2.56
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1355 / 125.931272 / 118.171355 / 125.93477 / 44.311658 / 154.09
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1355 / 125.931272 / 118.171355 / 125.93477 / 44.311658 / 154.09
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume191.69201.74191.69172.50194.32
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation34083088383412004813
Same as above plus superheater percentage34083088383412004813
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area16,48015,20018,540745524,150
Power L135273547396823614013
Power MT248.16280.95270.55371.79236.98

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
ClassRogue Pug
Locobase ID12050
RailroadCentral Caracas
CountryCuba
Whyte2-6-0
Number in Class1
Road Numbers
Gauge2'6"
Number Built1
BuilderBurnham, Williams & Co
Year1893
Valve GearStephenson
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)9 / 2.74
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)15 / 4.57
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.60
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)36.50 / 11.13
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)34,000 / 15,422
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)39,000 / 17,690
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)1200 / 4.55
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT)
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)19 / 9.50
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)36 / 914
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)130 / 900
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)12" x 16" / 305x406
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)7072 / 3207.81
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 4.81
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)119 - 1.5" / 38
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flue/Tube length (ft / m) 8.25 / 2.51
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)47.30 / 4.40
Grate Area (sq ft / m2) 7.80 / 0.72
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)434 / 40.33
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)434 / 40.33
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume207.22
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation1014
Same as above plus superheater percentage1014
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area6149
Power L12497
Power MT485.73

All material Copyright © SteamLocomotive.com
Wes Barris