2-8-0 Steam Locomotives in Cuba

Class 9 (Locobase 20807)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 78, pp. 148+. Works number was 52236 in August 1919.

Three years after the CSL bought a pair of coal-fired plantation Consolidations (Locobase 14432) came the duplicate 9, an oil-burner, through the American Trading Company, which was oil-fired. It had a bigger tender. A note in the specification sheds light on the choice of fuel: "Oil-burning arrangement to be suitable for use with crude oil ...[it is]to receive most careful attention for the reason that the use of oil on this locomotive is in the nature of an experiment on the part of the purchaser. If it meets with entire success, all purchaser's locomotives may be changed to burn oil."

And if it failed? "Locomotive to be arranged so that it can readily be changed to burn coal if desired."

Like the 5 & 6, the 9 faced very tight curve radii of 100 feet (30.5 metres) and very light 32-35 lb/yard (16-17.5 kg/metre) track. To handle the curvy road, the front truck swung 7" (178 mm) to each side and the two intermediate drivers were flangeless.

Class Gibara (Locobase 14872)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 64, p. 171. Works number was 52630 in December 1919.

This latest Baldwin plantation Consolidation for the CSL was a duplicate of the earlier four shown in Locobase 14013, according to the specifications. But the Gibara, ordered only three months after the 10, differed from the earlier engines in two major respects. It was oil-fired with heavy Tampico crude from the Texas-Mexico Oil and Terminal Company and it weighed 7,200 lb (3,266 kg) more on the drivers and 8,650 lb (3,924 kg) overall. (Perhaps the 11's weight was a more realistic figure.)

After the nationalization that followed the 1959 Revolucion, the Santa Lucfa was renamed for General Rafael Freyre, a change also applied to the mill town of Gibara The 11 was renumbered 1386.

Class Pura (Locobase 14432)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 54, p. 157-158 Works numbers were 42232 in August 1915, 43851 in August 1916, and 52236 in August 1919.

This set of plantation Consolidations faced very tight curve radii of 100 feet (30.5 metres) and very light 32-35 lb/yard (16-17.5 kg/metre) track. To handle the curvy road, the front truck swung 7" (178 mm) to each side and the two intermediate drivers were flangeless.

Amalia (6) arrived a year after Pura. She trailed a larger tender that held 4 tons (3.6 metric tons) of coal and 4,000 US gallons (15,140 litres) of water. Loaded weight increased to 90,000 lb (40, 823 kg).

Three years later, the CSL ordered a duplicate from Baldwin, but it was to burn oil; see Locobase 20807.

Class Yabazon (Locobase 14013)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 44, p. 254, Vol 54, 172, and Vol 64, pp. 169. Works numbers were 37716 in May 1912, 38101 in August, 41468 in June 1914, 52380 in September 1919.

Cayaguani was the name of the second locomotive in the pair of plantation Consolidations delivered by the Mosle brothers. Both later operated on the Central Rafael Freyre.

Camayen (9) was ordered two years later, apparently directly by the CSL. Its tender carried 2,500 US gallons (9,463 litres) and 5 tons (4.5 metric tons) of coal and weighed 50,500 lb (22,096 kg). The larger tender extended overall wheelbase to 42 feet 3 3/4 inches (12.9 metres). Arroyo Blanco (10) was produced after World War One to the same specifications as the Camayen.