Central T_namo / Central Tanamo / Central Toledo / Central Tranquilidad 2-8-0 Locomotives in Cuba


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class 1 (Locobase 14026)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University, Vol 44, p. 312. Works number was 38661 in November 1912.

Tiny, two-fueled (coal or wood) Consolidation bought by dealer Ernst Wiener and put to work on this Cuban sugar mill in Oriente Province. The Tranquilidad's history began before the Cuban 1895 Revolution and featured many non-tranquil moments.


Class 10 (Locobase 14884)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 64, pp. 192. Works number was 57207 in September 1923.

This sugar mill based in the Holguin area of Oriente Province came back to Baldwin for another plantation Consolidation almost three years after it took delivery of a saturated coal-burner originally intended for the Central Altimira (Locobase 14882). It's likely that the railway still consisted of 45 lb/yard (22.5 kg/metre) rail and minimum curve radii of 200 feet (61 m).

This 2-8-0, although about the same size and fitted with the same "special equipment" such as injectors, headlights, etc., was a substantially different engine thanks to the switch to oil fuel, the adoption of a goodly amount of superheater area, more cylinder volume, and five tons greater weight on the drivers and four-and-a-half tons altogether. The motion now consisted of outside constant-lead radial valve gear actuating 8" (203 mm) piston valves.

Like the 2, the 10 survived well into the Castro era, in which the Central Tánamo was renamed for Frank Pais and the engine renumbered 1254.


Class 10 (Locobase 14885)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolye Library of Southern Methodist University, Volume 64, pp. 201. Works numbers were 52195 and 52245 in August 1919 and 52913 in January 1920.

Although still not so very big, the 10 represented the top end of plantation Consolidations in using oil fuel and superheating the steam in the boiler used by many Cuban sugar 2-8-0s.. The hotter steam was accompanied, as usual, by a switch to outside constant-lead radial valve gear, which operated 11" (279 mm) piston valves. These engines faced grades of 2% on their railway, one stretch of 800 metres (1/2 mile) on the plantation line and another rising for 10 km (6.2 miles) on the main line.

After the 1959 Revolucion and subsequent nationalization, the CT was renamed twice, first for Manuel Martinez Prieto and much later for the Amistad con los Pueblos (Friendship with the People). The 10-12 were renumbered 1803-1805.


Class 16 (Locobase 14886)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University, Vol 64, p. 204. Works numbers were 54138-54139 in November 1920.

In the same year that they took delivery of the superheated trio described in Locobase 14885, Central Toledo bought two of the standard large-size Baldwin plantation Consolidations. They were built along the lines of the others, but used 11" (279 mm) piston valves to supply steam to the cylinders.

The 16 was later sold to the Central Santa Amelia, which was renamed after the 1959 Revolucion for Victoria de Yaguajay; the engine was renumbered 1813. The 17 later operated on the Central Carolina, which was renamed for the boat Granma that brought Castro and 81 others from Mexico to Cuba in 1956. The engine was renumbered 1714.


Class 2 (Locobase 14882)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 64, pp. 190. Works number was 54234 in January 1921.

Although the Central Altimira ordered this plantation Consolidation as its #6 (one of a pair), neither the 5 nor the 6 was delivered to that mill. Instead, the later of the two was sent to this Oriente Province central located on the Plain of Sagua de Tánamo near the Bay of Tánamo.

After the 1959 Revolucion and nationalization, the CT was renamed for Frank Pais.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
Class11010162
Locobase ID14026 14884 14885 14886 14882
RailroadCentral TranquilidadCentral TanamoCentral ToledoCentral ToledoCentral T_namo
CountryCubaCubaCubaCubaCuba
Whyte2-8-02-8-02-8-02-8-02-8-0
Number in Class11211
Road Numbers110 / 125410-12 / 1803-180516-17 / 1813, 17142
Gauge3'3'StdStd3'
Number Built11211
BuilderBaldwinBaldwinBaldwinBaldwinBaldwin
Year19121923191919201921
Valve GearStephensonWalschaertWalschaertWalschaertStephenson
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)10.33 / 3.1510.50 / 3.2014.50 / 4.4214.50 / 4.4210.50 / 3.20
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)16.08 / 4.9018.08 / 5.5122.33 / 6.8122.33 / 6.8117 / 5.18
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.64 0.58 0.65 0.65 0.62
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)37.87 / 11.5443.96 / 13.4052.08 / 15.8752.50 / 1643.37 / 13.22
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)50,000 / 22,68082,000 / 37,195124,000 / 56,246128,900 / 58,46872,000 / 32,659
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)56,000 / 25,40193,000 / 42,184143,000 / 64,864145,000 / 65,77182,000 / 37,195
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)24,000 / 10,88675,500 / 34,246100,000 / 45,359115,000 / 52,16360,000 / 27,216
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)80,000 / 36,287168,500 / 76,430243,000 / 110,223260,000 / 117,934142,000 / 64,411
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)1200 / 4.553500 / 13.265000 / 18.946000 / 22.733000 / 11.36
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT)1500 / 56782000 / 757010 / 95 / 5
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)21 / 10.5034 / 1752 / 2654 / 2730 / 15
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)36 / 91437 / 94050 / 127050 / 127037 / 940
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)150 / 1030165 / 1140180 / 1240175 / 1210165 / 1140
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)13" x 18" / 330x45716" x 20" / 406x50820" x 24" / 508x61020" x 24" / 508x61015" x 20" / 381x508
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)10,774 / 4887.0119,408 / 8803.3329,376 / 13324.7528,560 / 12954.6117,057 / 7736.93
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 4.64 4.23 4.22 4.51 4.22
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)72 - 2" / 5199 - 2" / 51128 - 2" / 51241 - 2" / 51124 - 2" / 51
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)16 - 5.375" / 13718 - 5.375" / 137
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)13.75 / 4.1914.25 / 4.3412.75 / 3.8913 / 3.9614.50 / 4.42
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)45 / 4.1865 / 6.04142 / 13.20142 / 13.1964 / 5.95
Grate Area (sq ft / m2) 9.40 / 0.8715.90 / 1.4829.70 / 2.7629.70 / 2.7615.70 / 1.46
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)560 / 52.031118 / 103.901312 / 121.931772 / 164.621000 / 92.90
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)258 / 23.98258 / 23.98
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)560 / 52.031376 / 127.881570 / 145.911772 / 164.621000 / 92.90
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume202.51240.21150.34203.06244.46
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation14102624534651982591
Same as above plus superheater percentage14103122620151982591
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area675012,76329,65024,85010,560
Power L125558231746741483283
Power MT450.62885.18531.03283.78402.10

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