2-6-0 Steam Locomotives in Cuba

Cubano de Hershey


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class 1 (Locobase 14393)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 54 p. 111+. See also the essay "Cuba, Central Hershey, 1916-1946" in the Hershey Community Archives at []. Works number was 44340 in October 1916.

The essay says that chocolate mogul Milton S Hershey acted quickly when he made up his mind and the establishment of Central Hershey demonstrates his celerity. Visiting Cuba for only the first time in January 1916, Hershey valued the "eternal spring" and promptly acquired sugar-growing land and a Central (mill) that was under construction by April near Santa Cruz.

Critical to the success of Central Hershey would be the new railroad as the mill's site lay nowhere near existing rail lines. When the interurban railroad was completed in 1922, it was all-electric. Dubbed the Hershey Train, it ran 104 km (65 miles) northeast from Havana to the north coast port of Matanzas. The Baldwin specs show that this was not a typical sugar road. For one thing, it was solidly built with 85 lb/yard (42.5 kg/metre) rail and while its first steam locomotive was of usual plantation Mogul dimensions, it trailed a sizable tender that reflected its use as a common-carrier freight locomotive as well.

Characteristic of Hershey's paternal, and soundly business-like, regard for his workers, the mill established its own town (batey). According to the Archive account: "In addition to comfortable homes for rent, there was good health care, a free public school, recreational facilities including a baseball diamond, golf course and sport club, and a general store. As in Hershey, Pennsylvania, the railroad permitted employees to choose where they would live."

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
Class1
Locobase ID14393
RailroadCubano de Hershey
CountryCuba
Whyte2-6-0
Number in Class1
Road Numbers1
GaugeStd
Number Built1
BuilderBaldwin
Year1916
Valve GearStephenson
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m) 8.50 / 2.59
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)16.25 / 4.95
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.52
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)45.12 / 13.75
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)79,700 / 36,151
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)89,900 / 40,778
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)100,000 / 45,359
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)189,900 / 86,137
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)5000 / 18.94
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT)6 / 6
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)44 / 22
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)45 / 1143
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)160 / 1100
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)17" x 20" / 432x508
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)17,468 / 7923.36
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 4.56
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)148 - 2" / 51
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)14 / 4.27
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)71 / 6.60
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)16.80 / 1.56
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1149 / 106.74
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1149 / 106.74
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume218.68
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation2688
Same as above plus superheater percentage2688
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area11,360
Power L13435
Power MT285.05

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