Central Adela / Central Algodones / Central Andorra 2-8-0 Locomotives in Cuba

Class 1 (Locobase 14788)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University, Vol 63, p. 360. Works number was 53824 in October 1920.

This is a little puzzling because the 6 was ordered only a few weeks after the 5 shown in Locobase 14787 and the 5 was produced for a railway gauge less than half as wide (2' 6).

Class 4 (Locobase 14785)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 63, p 354. Works number was 47544 in January 1918.

This plantation Consolidation had a special note about its fuel: "The soft coal which will be used as fuel will be broken up into very fine particles due to considerable handling. Company wishes us to take this fact into consideration in designing the rocking grates and to arrange the spaces between the grate fingers as small as consistent with the passage of sufficient air to properly burn the coal."

This latter requirement was in line with the general order that these locomotives were to be as free steaming as earlier engines directly cited by order number.

Locobase wonders if this form of fuel flew up the stack or if somehow the engine's draft was controlled to soften the air flow. We note that the firebrick arch was omitted, but that the studs were apply the studs or angle iron to support the arch should the company decide to install one. Baldwin supplied prints to show the size and layout of the brick.

In any case, the superheated engine used 9 1/2" (241 mm) piston valves to admit steam. The 4 traveled over 60 lb/yard (30 kg/metre) rail up 1.6% grades that ran for about 0.6 miles (1 km).

The Central Algodones was opened in 1916 near Majagua in Ciego de Avila Province.

Class 5 (Locobase 14787)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University, Vol 63, p. 358. Works number was 53812 in October 1920.

This little plantation Consolidation rode on 25 lb/yard (12.5 kg/metre) for a Central in the Pinar del Rio Province. It was the exact duplicate of the #4, which had been bought by Central Lincoln Azucarera before its name was changed in 1920,

The Central Andorra would regain its presidential honorific when the CA was renamed Central Abraham Lincoln after the post-1959 Revolucion and expropriation.

Class Adela (Locobase 12646)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University, Volumes 25, p. 132; 30, p. 150; and 32, p. 234. Works numbers were 21308 in November 1902, 29764 in December 1906, and 32813 in June 1908.

Grades of 4% and 75-ft radius curves were common challenges for metre-gauge Consolidations like these Adelas. Rail weights on level sections were 85 lb/yard (42.5 kg/metre) and 45 lb/yard (22.5 kg/metre) on grades.

Adela 4 was purchased by Zozoya & Cia, 5 and 6 were ordered by Zarraga & Cia.

After the 1959 Cuban Revolution, the Central Adela was given Ministry of Sugar number 401 and renamed for Heriberto Duquesne.

Class Coralia (Locobase 14784)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 63, pp. 349+. Works number was 52379 in September 1919 and 53830 in October 1920.

These modestly scaled plantation Consolidation served the Zarraga Brothers Central near Caibarien. The 8, named Fe' Zarraga, weighed a little more, putting 72,000 lb (32,659 kg) on the drivers and 82,000 lb (37,195 kg) on all five axles.