Central Siboney / Central Soledad / Colonial Sugars 2-6-0 Locomotives in Cuba

Class 1 (Locobase 14431)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University, Volume 63, pp. 428, Volume 64, p. 245+, and Volume 72, pp. 18+. Works numbers were 52163 in August 1919, 53872 in October 1920, 57946 in July 1924.

Locobase 14368 shows the first of the Soledad oil-burning plantation Moguls to arrive with 12 x 18" cylinders; that was the first #6. For some reason, probably for strength reasons, these later oil-burning 2-6-0s were about 2 1/2 tons (2,268 kg) heavier even though no other dimensions changed significantly and they still traveled over 30 lb/yard (15 kg/metre) rail. The usual Baldwin oil-burning arrangement called for a burner in the front end of the firebox, firebricks lining the furnace and paving the bottom of the ashpan.

Number 6 was the second CS locomotive so numbered; it was not a modification of the first one.

8, the last of the five, trailed a smaller-capacity, four-wheel tender that carried only 600 US gallons (2,271 litres)of oil, 1,200 gallons (4,542 litres) and weighed 12,000 lb (5,443 kg) empty, 27,500 lb (12,474 kg) loaded. Engine and tender wheelbase decreased to 30 ft 5 1/4 in (9.28 m).

Although delivered as oil-burners, these locomotives could be converted to the original wood-burning design.The parts were ordered through Baldwin's Extra Work Department and included grates, ash pan, with netting under dampers, Radley & Hunter [diamond] stack, etc. and a wood rack around top of tank.

After the 1959 revolution and nationalization, the Central Soledad was renamed for Pepito Tey. The 7 and 8 took new numbers 1164-1165.

Class 1 (Locobase 15250)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Vol 72, pp. 32+. Works numbers 57919-57920 in July 1924.

Based in Camagney Province, the Cuban-owned CS was built during the flush times during and after World War One when sugar production rose to meet world demand. Its first sugar cane was ground in 1924. These two bi-fuel (coal and wood) plantation Moguls were of typical size and power for a standard-gauge sugar railroad in Cuba.

Although that boom faded in the face of the onset of the Great Depression and the CS's output plunged. the CS remained in operation into the 21st century. It was one of the few that did not change its name after the 1959 Revolucion and expropriation.

Class 6 (1st) (Locobase 14368)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University, Volume 54, p. 62. Works number was 44344 in October 1916.

Gene Connelly's Baldwin record shows that the firm of Czarnikow Rionda brokered the 1916 sale of a plantation Mogul to the Cuban Cane Sugar Corporation for the Central Soledad. The 6 was headed for a sugar processor whose connection with Harvard University's Botanical Gardens on the site is documented in Locobase 14028.

The rail line was, like most sugar roads, lightly built and curvy. Rails weighed 30 lb/yard (15 kg/metre) and the curves curled as tightly as 90 feet in radius (27.4 metre).

The 6 had to make do with soft coal that was "bad grade, partly pulverized", which is undoubtedly why later engines were delivered as oil-burners. The oil-burning 7, 9 and 8 (production date order) weighed 5,800 lb (2,631 kg) more on their drivers and 4,400 lb (1,996 kg) overall. Note that these later engines used diamond stacks.

Its empty weight came to 44,600 lb (20,230 kg).

Class 8 (Locobase 11529)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 26, p. 158 and Volume 27, p. 88. Works numbers were 23222 in December 1903 and 24617 in August 1904.