Central Senadao / Central Senado / Central Stewart 2-8-0 Locomotives in Cuba

Class 110 (Locobase 14898)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University, Volume 64, pp. 293. Works numbers were 53853-53854 in October 1920 and 54284-54286 in January 1921.

The first two of this group of five superheated, oil-burning plantation Consolidations were lettered for the Central Stewart, the latter three also went directly to the Central Stewart in Camagney Province, but were lettered for the Central's owner, Cuba Cane Sugar Corporation. (Note: Although Gene Connelly's list says these three engines went to the Central Violeta, the spec for the trio's superheaters shows Central Stewart as the intended recipient.) Like many of the superheated engines, these engines used 11" (279 mm) piston valves to admit steam to the cylinders.

The first two remained on the Central Stewart for decades and when the 1959 Revolucion and nationalization resulted in the CS's renaming for Venezuela, the 16-17 would be renumbered 1742-1743.

Gene Connelly's list notes that 112 was later sold to the Central Conchita located at Unión de Reyes in Matanzas Province. , the CC was renamed Puerto Rico Libre and the 112 renumbered 1718.

Class 14 (Locobase 14879)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University, Volume 64, p. 185. Works number was 53521 in August 1920.

After buying a superheated Consolidation in 1916 (Locobase 14475), the CS returned to saturated steam by ordering this 2-8-0 through the Lawrence Turnure Company. The specification notes that although ordered as a coal-burner, the 14 could be converted to oil burning.

Operating near Minas in Camagney Province, the 14 remained on the roster for decades. After the 1959 Revolucion and nationalization, the CS was renamed for Noel Fernandez and the 14 renumbered 1664. Connelly does not record what happened to the 15.

Class 15 (Locobase 14881)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University, Volume 72, pp 27-29. Works number was 57072 in September 1923.

Given that the CS was still using 50 lb/yard (25 kg/metre) rail, this oil-burning sister to the 14 shown in Locobase 14879 was about as powerful an oil-burning plantation Consolidation would get. As with most small Baldwin oil-burners, the 15 used the BLW standard arrangement with the burner mounted in the front end of the firebrick-lined firebox. Firebrick pavement also lay on the ashpan bottom.

Class 16 (Locobase 20805)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 72, pp. 24+. Works numbers were 57791-57792 in June 1924.

Central Senado ordered the first of its kinny-gauge plantation Consolidations as a wood-burner in 1919; see Locobase 14880. Like the 12, this pair's eating surface areas were lower than the plantation;s still-earlier 2-8-0s, probably because some of the area was derived from thicker-walled #13 Birmingham Wire Gauge tubes.

Like most Baldwin oil-burners, especially for lighter - or narrower-gauge service, these used the BLW standard arrangement with the burner mounted in the front end of the firebrick-lined firebox. The ashpan was paved with firebrick as well. New tenders carried more water in addition to the oil fuel and weighed

When these engines went to the Central Narcisa, they, like the 12, were regauged to the latter's 27 1/2" (700 mm) track width. The CN was renamed after the 1959 Revolucion and nationalization for Obdulio Morales and the 12 renumbered 1366, 16 became 1367, and the 17 took 1365.

Class Bernabe Sanchez (Locobase 14012)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 44, p. 250. See also Cesar J Ayala, American sugar kingdom: the plantation economy of the Spanish Caribbean 1898-1934 (University of North Carolina Press, 1999). Works numbers 33500 in June 1909 and 37822 in June 1912.

A typical sugar-mill Consolidation design, these engines served several Cuban processors. The Mosle Brothers delivered them first to Central Senado in Camaguey Province three years apart. The 1 later worked for the Central Andreita.

After the 1959 Revolucion and nationalization, the CA was renamed Central Mal Tiempo north of Cienfuegos and the 1 was renumbered 1320. As it happened, the timing couldn't have been too bad as this locomotive was reported "in existence" almost 90 years after it left Eddystone.

The 9, which bore the name of Alvaro Sanchez, remained on the Central Senado until at least 1937, after which it was sold to the Cia Azucarera de Guines.

Class Emilio Sanchez (Locobase 14880)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 64, p. 183. Works number was 52103 in July 1919.

This engine was ordered by sugar broker Lawrence Turnure and Company.

Compared to earlier skinny-gauge plantation Consolidation produced by Baldwin for the Central Senado, the 12 had smaller heating surface areas, probably because some of the area was derived from thicker-walled #13 Birmingham Wire Gauge tubes. The 12 was a wood-burner and sported a Rushton Improved cabbage stack.

A later pair (16 and 17), adopted oil-burning fireboxes; see Locobase 208

The 12 was later sold to the Central Narcisa and regauged to the latter's 27 1/2" (700 mm) track width. The CN was renamed after the 1959 Revolucion and nationalization for Obdulio Morales and the 12 renumbered 1366, 16 became 1367, and the 17 took 1365.

Class Guillermo Schumann (Locobase 12453)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 23, p. 154. Works number was 18371 in November 1900.

This was a pretty big Consolidation for the gauge. Located in Camaguey Province, the Central Senado was known as one of the best-run railways in the sugar-mill network.

The Guillermo Schumann was sold to the Central Mercedita and later to Gregorio Arlee Manalich.

Class unknown (Locobase 14475)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University, Volume 54, pp. 211. Works number was 44461 in November 1916.

At the same time Baldwin was selling a small superheated plantation Consolidation design to several Centrales, the Mosle Brothers bought one of them for the Central Senado in Camaguey Province. The Baldwin specs stated that the engine would travel over the 60 lb/yard (30 kg/metre) rail, up 2% grades, and around 17 degree curves (radii of 338 feet/103 metres).