Central San Isidro / Central Santa Isabel 2-8-0 Locomotives in Cuba

Class 1 (Locobase 14029)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 44, p. 318. Works number was 40224 in July 1913

This plantation Consolidation was ordered by Jose Maria Beguiristain for the San Isidro (more formally, the "Ingenio San Isidro Destileria el Infierno") in Quemado de Guines Province. Although the design used a straight stack, the spec nevertheless cautioned that "special attention is to be given to prevent escape of live sparks."

The 1 later operated on the Central Andreita. After the 1959 Revolution, the azucarera took the name Central Mal Tiempo and the 1 was renumbered 1321.

Class 1 (Locobase 14871)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University, Vol 64, p. 165. Works numbers were 53763 in September 1920 and 53953 in November.

These two stock Baldwin plantation Consolidations came to the Santa Isabel directly from Baldwin and were coal-burners. A third, oil-burning sister took a less direct route; see Locobase 14844.

Class 10 (Locobase 20806)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 44, p. 318 and Volume 64, p. 139. Works numbers were 40224 in July 1913, 52262 in August 1919, and 53864 in October 1920.

Locobase 14029 describes an earlier plantation Consolidation delivered to the San Isidro in 1913. Six years later, Baldwin produced a nearly identical engine, this time for an order from Compania Azucarera de Sagua and set up for oil firing. Changes included the usual Baldwin standard oil-burning arrangement (burner at the front end of the firebox, firebricks lining the furnace and paving the ashpan bottom). West India Oil Company specifically supplied the heavy crude which was rated at 12 degrees Baume and a 1.09 specific gravity. But although the fuel was oil, the smoke box was to be extended. Sand quantities had proved too low for the service; the crew had to carry about 25 gallons of sand in the cab and the company specified larger sand boxes.

As with many narrow-gauge plantation engines, only the lead and rear drivers had flanges; the intermediates were bald.

The 12 later operated on the Central Andreita. After the 1959 Revolution, the azucarera took the name Central Mal Tiempo and the 12 took new number 1355. 10 remained on the San Isidro, gaining number 1347 when the mill was renamed for Osvaldo Sanchez.

Class unknown (Locobase 14844)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University, Vol 64, p. 167. Works number was 54214 in December 1920.

Unlike the earlier two Baldwin plantation Consolidations, this engine was not directly delivered to the CSI. It was in fact ordered by Central Caribe as their #1, but the oil-burner was instead diverted to the Central Guira. This Central was at that moment on the brink of foreclosure, so Eddystone secured a third buyer in the Santa Isabel, which had ordered its two coal burners of identical design only months before (Locobase 14871).

Santa Isabel, then located in Santa Clara Province (renamed Las Villas Province in 1940), was nationalized after the 1959 Revolucion and renamed for Ramon Ponciano.