2-6-0 Steam Locomotives in Haiti

Cie de CF de la Plaine du Cul-de-Sac


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

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. See also Allen Morrison, "The Tramways of Port-au-Prince H a i t i" at [], last accessed 8 August 2026; and W Rodney Long, Railways of Central America and the West Indies, Trade Promotion Series No 5, US Department of Commerce (Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1925), pp. 283-287. Works number was 31223 and 31243 in July 1907.

Like other Caribbean sugar-growing countries, Haiti's rural railways 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.

In 1915, the US landed troops in Haiti during which the Haitian American Sugar Company (HASCO) took over the CCFPCS and operated as the Chemin de Fer Central.


Class Christophe Colomb (Locobase 15008)

Data from Roy V Wright (Ed.) 1922 Locomotive Cyclopedia of American Practice, Sixth Edition (New York: Simmons-Boardman Publishing Company, 1922), p. 1000. See also See also Martin Coombs, Part 20 West Indian islands steam locomotive lists (other than Cuba), V. 1.04, June 2026, pp. 152-154, at [], last accessed 8 August 2026. at [], last accessed 8 August 2026;. Works number was 4778 in May 1911.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
Class51Christophe Colomb
Locobase ID13049 15008
RailroadCie de CF de la Plaine du Cul-de-Sac (Central)Cie de CF de la Plaine du Cul-de-Sac (Central)
CountryHaitiHaiti
Whyte2-6-02-6-0
Number in Class21
Road Numbers51-5220
Gauge3'6"2'6"
Number Built21
BuilderBurnham, Williams & CoPorter
Year19071911
Valve GearStephensonStephenson
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)12 / 3.66 8.17 / 2.49
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)17.92 / 5.4616.75 / 5.11
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.67 0.49
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)41,000 / 18,59765,800 / 29,846
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)50,000 / 22,68075,800 / 34,382
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)30,000 / 13,60847,000
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)80,000 / 36,288122,800
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)1500 / 5.68
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT)
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)23 / 11.5037 / 18.50
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)40 / 101642 / 1067
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)160 / 1100180 / 1240
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)13" x 18" / 330x45715" x 20" / 381x508
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)10,343 / 4691.5116,393 / 7435.75
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 3.96 4.01
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)156 - 1.5" / 38
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flue/Tube length (ft / m) 8.08 / 2.46
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)60 / 5.5862.20 / 5.78
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)11 / 1.0218 / 1.67
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)554 / 51.491073 / 99.68
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)554 / 51.491073 / 99.68
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume200.34262.31
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation17603240
Same as above plus superheater percentage17603240
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area960011,196
Power L132944263
Power MT531.37428.49

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