2-6-0 Steam Locomotives in Cuba

Class 1 (Locobase 14855)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 64, p. 128. Works number was 54237 in January 1921.

This oil-burner used the same boiler, firebox, and power dimensions as several othe5r Cuban sugar plantation Moguls. It had a smaller tender than most of the others. Maximum grades of 1 1/2%, 60 lb/yard (30 kg/metre) rails, and curves with minimum radii of 360 feet (110 metres) were the profile over which this engine had to travel.

The 1 was later sold to the Central San Isiopo.

Located at San Cristóbal in Pinar del Rfo (westernmost of the six provinces in Cuba), this mill was renamed after the 1959 Revolucion and expropriation for Jose Marti.

Class 1 (Locobase 14891)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 64, p. 226. Works number was 47283 in December 1917.

Class 14 (Locobase 13632)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 54, p. 83. Works numbers were 42203 in July 1915 and 52378 in September 1919.

Typical plantation Moguls, but possessing considerable power for the gauge and fitted with outside constant-lead radial valve gear. It was expected to stay upright on 35-lb/yard (17.5-kg/metre) rail, tolerate 1 1/2% grades, and negotiate curves of 236 feet (72 metres) radius.

The FC de Constancia was a 30"-gauge sugar road that deployed 42 1/2 miles (68 km) of track (including sidings) that in 1908 connected Rodas in Santa Clara Province with Santa Clara, Castillito, Yuguaramas, and Horquito.

In July 1919, the Central's owner bought a duplicate.

Class 19 (Locobase 13628)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University, Volume 44, p. 284; Volume 49, p. 36; Volume 54, pp. 88-92. See also A J Sierra's History of Cuba.com at [], last accessed 29 December 2011. Works number was 39190 in January 1913, 40679 in September, 41797 in November 1914, 42566 in October 1915, 43649-43650 in July 1916.

Another of the many Cuban American Sugar Company plantations, this one was established immediately after the US occupation in 1899. Former Texas congressman R B Hawley's acquisition in Oriente Province amounted to 70,000 acres (28,420 ha). Sierra explains that this easternmost province was at the time the most rural of Spanish Cuba's provinces and the most diverse both in race and in ownership. The overthrow of Spanish rule and the influx of foreign capital meant wholesale changes that eventually led to dominance by companies such as Cuban American.

One paper notes that Hawley had a partner in General Mario Garcia Menocal, a civil engineer trained at Cornell, who found the original location for the CP at Puerto Padre and who designed both the CP and the Central Delicias.

Chaparra sooned boasted the largest sugar mill in the Western Hemisphere and would eventually become the largest sugar estate. In 1912, the mill produced 475,362 bags (58,000 tons/52,617 metric tons). Railroads proved the key factor in exploiting these hitherto remote regions and Chaparra's purchase of this clutch of Moguls was part of the motive-power stock that hauled the cane trains.

As this series of plantation Moguls joined their brethren to form one of the largest classes of Cuban steam locomotives supplied to a single operator, very little about the design changed. Those supplied in 1917 and later burned oil and are described in Locobase 20802.

Class 19 (Locobase 20802)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University, Volume 64, p. 260+. See A J Sierra's History of Cuba.com at [], last accessed 29 December 2011. Works numbers were 47233 in December 1917, 50944 in December 1918, 52076 and 52101 in July 1919, 53236-53237 in May 1920, and 56739 in July 1923.

See Locobase 13268 for a capsule history of the Cuban American Sugar Company and the Chapparra plantation in particular. The first six plantation Moguls were delivered as coal-burners. Begining in 1917, CAS repeated the design, but specified oil fuel to be burned by a Baldwin standard arrangement with the burner placed at the front end of the firebox. Related to the fuel change was the requirement to lay a fire brick pavement in the ash pan and to line the firebox with fire brick.They were to be convertible "readily" to burn soft coal "if so desired". The last three put on 1,000 (454 kg) extra pounds.

A frequent requirement in Baldwin specifications for logging or plantation engines was "All springs to be made one plate heavier than usual." A handwritten "Hereafter" note dated 1 March 1918 underscored the importance: "All springs to be made at least 10% heavier." The specs gave a very exact travel length of 4.5075" [114.5 mm]. Another common feature was the installation of water jets to blow on to the rails before the lead driver and behind the rear driver to blow sand off after the engine has passed over them.

Still later on 11 June 1920 as it specified more oil burners, the company reported "Transverse equalizer beam link too long." (Locobase supposes an overlong equalizer link would have interfered with the engine's ride quality.) A later spec singled out the beam to be "made heavy" and reinforced the links were to be "made to correct length."

The spec also noted that the fuel was to be "heavy Tampico oil' of gravity of 12-12 1/2 degrees to be bought from W N Best of New York. Also, the oil heater in the tender was "to consist of a coil of pipe of sufficient size to heat heavy Tampico oil." But, the spec warned, "Steam from Heater not to exhaust into the oil."

A long note on page 271, Volume 64 details a number of issues. One explained that venting the air pump's exhaust into the smoke box increased oil consumption (possibly because an increase in draft would pull the burned oil through the tubes too fast). The change should be to send the exhaust through the port of the c ylinders.

Class 2 (Locobase 14892)

Data from DeGolyer, Volume 64, pp. 228+. Works number was in 1918.

This engine was ordered in early 1918 as a plantation 0-6-0 (6 18 D 47) and were to be a duplicate of two immediately preceding six-coupleds for another railroad. Locobase isn't certain when the 2 was delivered, but the specifications page reveals that Baldwin's Havana office sent a letter on 18 May 1918 regarding defects in this locomotive. Another note states that on 28 October 1918, Baldwin received Extra Work Department Order No. 9398 to mount a two-wheeled front engine truck. It's possible that the "defects" related to an 0-6-0's inability to keep the track, although Locobase documents other instances in which Baldwin's workmanship was called into question.

Thus, almost all of this locomotive's career was spent as a Mogul.

Class Julia (Locobase 14870)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 64, p. 163 and Vol 72, pp. . Works numbers were 53587 in August 1920, 53638 in September, and 58132 in December 1924.

Bought by the Unidad Sugar Corporation, these oil-burning plantation Mogul was delivered to the Santa Catalina to run on 56 and 60 lb/yard (28 and 30 kg/metre). They remained on the Santa Catalina's rails for decades. After the 1959 Revolucion and nationalization, the SC was renamed for Carlos Carabello and the 2-6-0s were renumbered 1550 and 1556-1557.