2-8-0 Steam Locomotives in Cuba

Class 221 (Locobase 10982)

Data from Record of Recent Construction #54 (Baldwin Locomotive Works, 1905), p. 16-17; and DeGolyer, Volume 24, p. 155. Works numbers were 19841, 19857, 19866, 19871 in December 1901; 26044-26047, 26087, 26109 in July 1905; 26140, 26170 in August; and 31709-31710, 31756-31758, 31776-31777, 31801-31803 in September 1907.

Baldwin delivered a dozen Consolidations to the URH (or FCUH) in two batches separated by four years. The first four had boilers pressed to 160 psi, but this rating was probably raised when the other eight arrived in 1905.

Compared to the Cuban Central Consolidations shown in Locobase 19979, this design had a bigger grate and a larger boiler. But the power dimensions were identical, which suggested the same pulling power, but for a longer haul. Even though the original Baldwin estimates included a table list weights per axle, the engines carried 4 short tons more weight when they entered service. Specs mention an extract of a letter 17 July 1901 concerning staying of the firebox, but Locobase cannot tell if it's a complaint.

Class 503 (Locobase 3231)

Data from Railway Age (Vol 70, #14, 1921). See also DeGolyer, Vol 66, pp. 57. Works numbers were 51549-51551 in March 1919; 53950-53951, 53966-53969, 54019-54020 in November 1920; 54211-54213 in December; 54293 in January 1921.

These were the standard US Army Consolidations built in large numbers in 1917-1919; see Locobase 431.

RA noted that these engines had boilers large enough to pull their rated loads at a continuous 20 mph. Their 10" (254 mm) piston valves were smaller than those used on the 0-8-0T tanks supplied