The St. Kitts Railways 2013

Thomas Kautzor has been to several Caribbean islands to check out what is left of their railways and industrial heritage.

For the full general index, see Railway Relics (and more) in the Caribbean, Other report for the eastern islands in this series comprise:

For other earlier accounts of visits to St. Kitts by Thomas and James Waite see above.

St. Kitts Sugar Manufacturing Corporation (SSMC).

A new compound has been cleared for the power company at the location of the former yard and as a result four more diesel locos as well as a large number of cane wagons formerly hidden in the vegetation have emerged, while the two unidentified loco remains from last year have since been identified as No. 19 & 20. These include locos No. 8 and 21, now stored on the former main line right below the airport parking lot. This only leaves the fate of five locos unknown (No. 9, 11’, (13) “Churchill”, 14 and 15).

The two Hunslet locos No. 14 & 15 restored by SKSR have not been put on display and are in fact operational, with No. 15 being used on works trains. 

The original 2012 list is still available, but other than the changes noted above, nothing else has changed.

• 6wDM No. 1 (HE 5202/57, 12 tons, 116 hp) operational in 2005, stored at SKSR;
• 6wDM No. 2 (HE 5216/57, 12 tons, 116 hp) operational in 2005, stored in loco shed (without engine);
• 6wDM No. 3 (HE 5217/57, also carries HE 5236/58 from No. 5 on one side, 12 tons, 116 hp) operational in 2005, stored at cane tipper;
• 4wDM No. 4” (RH 48DL 300350/50 or 300530/51, 48 hp, ex No. 14”) withdrawn by 2002, stored at SKSR;
• 6wDM No. 5 (HE 5236/58, also carries HE 5217/57 from No. 3 on one side, 12 tons, 116 hp) operational in 2005, stored at cane tipper;
• 6wDM No. 6 (HE 5235/58, 12 tons, 116 hp) operational in 2005, stored at SKSR;
• 6wDM No. 7 (HE 5237/58, 12 tons, 116 hp) operational in 2005, stored at SKSR;
• 0-6-0DH No. 8 (ESCA L7/97, 134 hp, rebuilt from 0-6-0DM RH 100DL 302766/54, 14 tons, 1979 ex Antigua Sugar Factory Ltd. No. 2, 1958 regauged from 24-in. No. 1D) operational in 2005, stored near airport;
• 4wDM No. 9 (RH 48DL, 283900/51, 7 tons, 48 hp) operational in 2005, not seen;
• 4wPM No. 10 (MR 3666/24, 5 tons, 32 hp, rebuilt from War Department 24-in. gauge MR 452/17) derelict by 1972, derelict at factory;
• 4wPM or DM No. 11 (Davenport 2045/25, 10 tons, 45 hp) derelict by 1972, not seen;
• 0-6-0DM No. 11” (RH 100DL 302769/57, 14 tons, 100 hp, 1979 ex Antigua Sugar Factory Ltd. No. 4) withdrawn by 2002, dumped at SSMC;
• 0-4-0DE No. 12 (AW D40/34, 12 tons, 85 hp) operational in 2005, stored at SKSR;
• 0-6-0DM “Churchill” (Davenport 3030/47, 14 tons, 150 hp, ex No. 13) withdrawn by 1991, not seen;
• 0-6-0DM No. 14 (Davenport, 145 hp) withdrawn by 2002, not seen;
• 6wDM No. 14” (HE 5218/58, 12 tons, 101 hp, 1989 ex No. 4) withdrawn by 02/2002, restored in 2012/13 and operational at SKSR;
• 0-6-0DM No. 15 (Davenport 3120/49, 14-15 tons, 150 hp, ex Jamaica) withdrawn by 1982, not seen;
• 0-6-0DH No. 15” (HE 9086/82, 18 tons, 160 hp) operational in 2005, restored in 2012 and operational at SKSR;
• 0-6-0DM No. 16 (Whitcomb 40637/34, 15 tons, 150 hp, ex Jamaica) operational in 2005, stored at SKSR;
• 0-6-0DM No. 17 (Whitcomb 40018/48, 15 tons, 150 hp, ex Jamaica) withdrawn by 2002, dumped at SSMC;
• 0-6-0DH No. 18 (ESCA L8/97, 134 hp, rebuilt from 0-6-0DM RH 100DL 302767/56, 14 tons, 1983 ex Antigua Sugar Factory Ltd. No. 3, 1958 regauged from 24-in. No. 2D) operational in 2005, stored in loco shed;
• 0-6-0DM No. 19 (RH 100DL 302770/58, 14 tons, 100 hp, 1983 ex Antigua Sugar Factory Ltd. No. 5) withdrawn by 2002, dumped at SSMC;
• 0-6-0DM No. 20 (RH 100DL 285318/52, 14 tons, 100 hp, 1983 ex Antigua Sugar Factory Ltd. No. 6, bought second hand in 1958) withdrawn by 1991, dumped at SSMC;
• 0-6-0DH No. 21 “Pauline” (ESCA L6/96, 134 hp, rebuilt from 0-6-0DM No. 10” RH 100DL 302768/56, 14 tons, 1979 ex Antigua Sugar Factory Ltd. No. 1, regauged from 24-in. No. 3D) operational in 2005, stored near airport.

This is the historic MotorRail #10 from both sides, the first picture is from 2012:

These are #8 and #21 not seen in 2012, in store near the airport:

St. Kitts Scenic Railway (SKSR):

The new US-built Global Locomotive bogie diesel loco announced last year has not yet arrived. It is complete, but will only get to the island before the 2014/15 cruise season at the earliest.

The following photos of LYd2-02 with a short train were taken on October 11th: