Central San Antonio 2-6-0 Locomotives in Cuba

Class 2 (Locobase 13076)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 30, p. 155. Works numbers were 35795 in December 1910 and 53728 in September 1920.

American Trading Company ordered an interesting mixed pair of locomotives for sugar plantations in March 1906 that weren't delivered for years.

A year after the engine shown in Locobase 13076, this Mogul arrived to serve a different plantation. It had more smaller-diameter tubes although both had the same firebox and power dimensions. A decade later, the same Central ordered a second engine to the same design that trailed a slightly larger tender.

The Central San Antonio mill was constructed at the town of Manuel Tames in Oriente Province.

Class 3 (Locobase 14369)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 54, p. 66. Works number was 44346 in October 1916.

The CSA had operated a 1910 plantation Mogul on 30-inch gauge track in 1910 (Locobase 13076) and would order another built to that gauge, but had widened the rails to accommodate this larger locomotive. It was still a challenging environment for the 3 as the line had curves of 113 and 80 metres radius (371 feet and 262 feet, respectively) and presented 4% grades, all on 30 lb/yard (15 kg/metre) track.

The Central San Antonio would catch the eye of chocolate potentate Milton S Hershey, who first saw Cuban sugar processing in 1916. He bought the CSA in 1925.

Class 4 (Locobase 14852)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 64, p. 118. Works number was 52509 in November 1919.

The CSA operated two railways of different gauges. Morewood & Company, owners of the Oriente-Province sugar mill, bought this oil-burning plantation Mogul for the larger gauge. Compared to the 3 of 1916 (Locobase 14369), this engine had larger tubes and a larger firebox, burned a different fuel, and used Walschaert gear. It faced the same sharp curves and ran on the same 40 lb/yard (20 kg/metre) rail.