2-6-0 Steam Locomotives in Cuba

Class 15 (Locobase 15245)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Vol 72, pp. 1+. Works number was 58133 in December 1924.

Operating this standard plantation Mogul, the CF operated a railway with 56 and 60 lb/yard (28 and 30 kg/metre). They later sold the 15 to the Central Corazon de Jesus in Santa Clara Province. After the 1959 Revolucion and later expropriation, the CCdJ was renamed for Marian Grajales and the 15 was renumbered 1540.

Class 5 (Locobase 14809)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 64, p. 13. Works number was 53058 in February 1920.

This oil-burning plantation Mogul also had main-line duties, if the taller-than-usual drivers and general dimensions are diagnostic. The mills at Central Florida seem to have been particularly efficient. A 1920 report showed the processor to be at the top of the list for percentage of sugar extracted from cane.

Class 6 (Locobase 14894)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 64, p. 233. Works number was 52341 in September 1919.

This standard Baldwin plantation Consolidation was bought by the J G White Engineering Corporation for the Central Sugar Corporation. At some later point (possibly very shortly), the 6 was later sold to the Central Constancia. After the 1959 Revolucion and nationalization, the Constancia was renamed for Abel Santamariea. The 6 was renumbered 1425.

Class Visita (Locobase 14403)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University, Volume 54, p. 77. "News Letter from our Havana Office", The Louisiana Planter and Sugar Manufacturer, Vol LIII, No 24 (12 December 1914), pp. 377. Works number was 41746 in October 1914.

The plantation that ordered this plantation Mogul was formally known as the Central Fidencia, but "Central Fe" was how the engine's lettering identified the sugar processor. At the time Central Fe lay within the barrio of San Andres, a town on the Cuban Central line about 31 miles (50 km) north of Placetas.

Baldwin's specification includes the usual notes on the rail weight--60 lb/yard (30 kg/metre)-- and curves--radii of 279 feet (82.3 metres). Given the small size of the railway, this superheated locomotive's dimensions seem out of scale. The Louisiana Planter report helps to place this engine in a larger perspective: "Together with the thirty-ton cane cars for Moron [another Central]...this locomotive shows the tendency and the necessity to discard the smaller cars and engines that have been almost universal use by the ingenios and to bring the capacity and efficiency of the privately owned rolling-stock up to that of the factories themselves."