2-6-0 Steam Locomotives in Haiti

Class 51 (Locobase 13049)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 29, p 306. Works number was 31223 and 31243 in July 1907.

Like other Caribbean sugar-growing countries, the National of Haiti needed small Moguls and this wood-burner fit the bill. Much of the Haitian railway network could be found in plantation tramways and connecting railways. These two small Moguls most likelly began their careers operating on the 100 km (62 miles) line linking Port-au-Prince-St Marc on the Cape Gauge. It would later reach Verrettes after laying 45 more km (29 miles).

Although patterned after several other Baldwin narrow-gauge plantation Moguls, this pair burned "wood" from a tender fitted with wood racks that held two cords . Locobase suspects the fuel consisted largely of bagasse, sugar cane after the juice was squeezed out of it at the mills. The low-calorie fuel dictated a bigger grate, somewhat shallower firebox, and the 13" (330 mm) diameter Radley & Hunter cabbage stack over a "short" smokebox to contain glowing cinders.