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The International Steam Pages |
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Enthusiast Holidays in Cuba 2001 |
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Georg Karner and Alan Pearce report on the Enthusiast Holidays Trip and their own independent trip: March 8 107 P.T. Brau - mill not operating as expected. 1401, 1505, 1562 cold 105 A.C. Sandino - a rather quiet day due to a loco failure. Also very poor and inaccurate information received on train movements. 1373 shunting at acopio, then rescuing 1667 (both still lettered for Hermanos Ameijeiras) Around 3pm 1373 out with empties, back with fulls an hour later. March 9 207 G.A. Manalich - if there was any morning action we missed it completely since the drivers took the wrong motorway (!) out of Havana and were not wishing to listen directions from more knowledgeable persons. 1351 shunting, then out LE to 1st LP, back with fulls immediately afterwards Afternoon operation was similar to last year. Around noon, 1365 hauled a train of empties all the way to the LP between Santa Barbara and Caiman, dropping some empties at Jicotea and bringing fulls back to the junction before continuing towards Santa Barbara. On the return journey, the loco used the watering point at Esmeralda and picked up the fulls from Jicotea at the junction. Locos found on shed: March 10 Only few of our party visited 211 Ruben Martinez Villena which was known to be not
milling. The others(including myself) preferred to ride the Hershey main line train all
the way from Havanna Casablanca to Matanzas. the 0830 train left a little late and arrived
a little late in Matanzas with one overhead damage problem encountered on the way. Sadly
this was the best run we saw as equipment reliability, staff meetings and specials
disrupted many service runs on the main line. 318 Victoria de Jaguajay, 304 Granma 318 was not milling and derelict as usual, all the cane was brought up to 304. Locos at 318: Locos at 304: March 11 303 Australia 1620 moving LE at the mill 314 Jesus Rabi - we met an outbound train with 1413 (built 1891!) at the FCC junction of La Paz near Calimete. About half of the group then boarded the caboose. The train went out to Cirineo LP on its own branch off the FCC. The loco took back the available fulls (and the caboose) immediately but still the journey to the mill turned out to be a lengthy one. First we had to wait at the FCC junction to let a northbound passenger train pass. Then the loco failed right after we had left the FCC track. The inexperienced crew had run it out of water. One and a half hours later a diesel came to our rescue. Judging from the clag it produced it might actually have been a steam loco! At the mill we found 1216 hot (maybe steamed up for some other enthusiasts) but not moving. Those who went direct to the mill to see the loaded arrival confirm 1216 did not move. Also 1414 shunting the yard. March 12 319 Rene Fraga - a quick visit. 1820 performed some shunting around 10.30. 1313 dead on shed. Others in the yard as in previous years The mill stationary engines were in view in good sunlight. On our way to Mal Tiempo, we met 1850 storming along with a train of fulls for Ifrain Alfonso at the crossing south of Ranchuelo. The only daylight unplanned encounter of the trip, but a good performance. 403 Mal Tiempo. We rode the caboose of the afternoon train to Callejas departing from the mill about
2pm. Our loco was 1320 (same as last year). We got several runpasts. Shortly after our
departure, a coupling failed and the train was split in two parts while travelling at line
speed. The rear portion of the train (including the caboose with all the 1345 hot, 1321, 1322, 1355 cold on shed. March 13 443 Pepito Tey. During our morning visit we found 1236 shunting, 1357 LE. We returned in the afternoon and saw 1357 CF with empties to Limpieza, returning with fulls after some shunting. Then we went to Lajitas for a picture of the departing train with 1358 and fulls around 4pm. Some more shunting at the mill with 1357 and 1358. Overall a very successful day. 1164, 1220, 1329 (lettered for Espartaco) cold on shed. 440 Ifrain Alfonso 1636 with a train of fulls on the FCC line from the water tower around noon. A westbound FCC passenger train followed a couple of minutes later. (In general we had the impression that many more passenger trains were being operated than last year.) 1637 out with empties towards Pozo around an hour later. (Train with 1850 see March 12). 1635, 1850, 1910 on shed. March 14 The steam-hauled passenger train operation described by Tony Eaton had been over for some weeks but we were told that 1517 would be available for charter at a price of only 10$ per participant (based on 15 minimum). This offer was readily accepted by our group. Our train was scheduled to depart from Cienfuegos at 8.45am and left around 9.15 after steaming really started when we arrived. We had several runpasts, and false starts etc and crossed the scheduled and very heavily loaded FCC passenger train at HORMIGUERO station, which is near to Espartico, at 11.40 (on time!). Our train terminated at Cruces around 12.30. Excellent value for money. 438 Ramon Ponciano 37102 shunting fulls. Inbound diesel-hauled train (37605?) with some 20 fulls around 4.30pm. A special with 1552 ran over the famous bridge adjacent to the mill, and to the FCC junction in Formento. The booked (with Minaz) run on to the FCC metals failed to materialize since FCC operator claimed it was not pre arranged even though no FCC train would have been in section and refused to play ball. March 15 428 Marcelo Salado not milling 1429 did special light to Cabarien Port to play with tank wagons for the cameras. 1550 (lettered for Carlos Caraballo) used for itermill loaded train ridden and chased to Remedios. 1343 dead and 1426 and 1549 under repair 405 L.A. Bergnes not milling 1346, 1539, 1541, 1755 in shed cold. March 16 412 J.P. Carbo Servia Only half of the group visited this mill due to a minibus driver error. No loco working at the time anyway its seems. 435 H. Ameijeiras Some diesel doing the shunting (late morning) Special with 1431 (CF of course) plus some empties to Zaza Gorda, back light engine. Steep gradients and tight curves near the end of the line suggest that regular steam workings were TF out in earlier days. Local enquiry got information that the Brush diesels can haul a significantly heavier train than the steam locos which explains the normal use of steam for mill shunting and not line working. Regular line work with diesels (2729 going out with empties, overtaking our train and crossing a train of fulls at Leiva). Very nice high bridge shot, over the River Zaza, near the junction for Hortelano Uno LP. 503 O.G. Ramirez Short late afternoon visit missed the return train(but see March 17). 1837 just retiring to the shed, 1563 shunting at dusk. March 17 515 Ciro Redondo Shunting performed by diesel 38026. 1829 was steamed up for our group. However, we were only offered Loco+caboose or caboose+loco+empties (note the order!) which was rejected. (This absolute lack of cooperation was maybe related to a fatal accident a few days before involving a mill train and an FCC train.) The understanding was the accident occurred near to Santa Clara and there were fatalities. 1826, 1839, 1832 dead. Northbound passenger train with railcar 2305 at Ceballos Station . This is near to Ciro Redondo. 2305 is a Budd Rail Diesel Car (RDC) of North American railway origin (possibly Canadian). 522 Venezuela 1742 with fulls at Pita Jones flat crossing. Northbound passenger train with Budd RDC railcar 2301 at Carolina Station, near to Venezuela, around 2.30pm. 503 O.G. Ramirez 1732 from Limones at 15.30. When the train reached Cabrera a service trolley was on its way south towards Portilla. The loaded train had already passed the junction when without slowing down the trolley workers waved at the loco driver and urged him to stop his 1500+ tonnes train and go back a few hundred metres so that they would not need to lift the trolley off the rails!! The driver of 1732 was obviously running without train brakes as he locked the loco wheels and slid for around 200 metres. The resulting back up and very difficult restart on a tight curve was spectacular but a disgusting example of plain stupidity in railway operating and safety practice. Apart from risking their health, they caused horrible waste of fuel(and spoiled what would otherwise have been one of the best shots of the tour!) Well, that's Cuba. The antics of a group of boy racer photographers from Britain in putting up a significant dust cloud also did little for the scene let alone the local image of steam enthusiats. March 18 505 C.M. de Cespedes Nothing moving and clearly had not for some time. 1173, 1907 cold on shed. Manati/622 Argelia Libre Around 17.00 three trains (one loco-hauled, two operated by Brill railcars) met at Manati. March 20 635 Rafael Freyre not milling Afternoon special 1388 plus empties TL to Paraiso loop engine run round and worked train back with run pasts at Paraiso loop 1, at east of Bariay village below big hill and next to river 2, Bariay curve 4 all in flat light sadly. main road bridge 2 and into the mill. Shunting around the rail bus also at Bariay lp. March 21 635 Rafael Freyre Morning special 1388 plus empties TL to Potrerilo. Engine run round at Americano loop and pushed train last 2 km. Run pasts in many locations on return including Los Mango LP where cut cane was being trucked away. March 26 (not part of main party visit) 315 J.S.Comas We found 1415 cold on shed and 1530 hot with burner off around 16.00 and asked in Spanish whether there would be any train in the next two hours. The guy told us that a train would go out at 17.30. When we gave him a few pens, he walked away - just to return two minutes later to tell us there would also be an incoming train at 17.00! Now this was much more interesting information. The incoming train was 1531 CF with fulls from Contreras. The driver stopped and asked money. Since other gricers had already given him some, we also had to give 1$ per person (to be split over the train crew). Then 1530 CF with empties to nearest LP, back TF with fulls immediately. Again the charge was 1$ per person, this time to be paid before the train left. Too many tourists get to this mill it appears! Camillo Cienfuegos or Hershey. Mill working well with many cane trains arriving behind electric locos. 1 diesel seen also. Passenger service to Jaruco and Caraballo normally ex Barcelona units with 3 cars. Brill 3006 and 3008 seem on tourist specials of which 80 to 90 are now run each year. 3009 in works actively being rebuilt for further service. 3006 seen on service to Caraballo on one day. Service to Santa Cruz del Norte has to be old Brill or rebuilt 65 foot main line cars since no high floor platform has been provided at the very short station with its sharply curving approach. This station is by the coast road and outside the closed off port area where the electrified railway yard is not accessable. The railway has rebuilt 1 Barcelona motor car with controls at the former inner end not previously fitted. Soon service to Santa Cruz and other lightly loaded branch runs could be single Barcelona car. The resultant de-controlled car been seen inserted into a former 3 car set to make 4 car set. Although the roof resistors were still on the car it is thought it will have been de-motored. 2x4 car sets seen. The alteration of afternoon arrivals and depatures in Havana from Casablanca to La Coubre is by passenger demand caused by the unreliable ferry operation. Some overall comments: The main Enthusiast Holidays tour (the first two weeks) was reasonably successful though last year's tour was much better due to better performance of the local tour guide. There will always be a problem in Cuba with most guides as they are not attuned to the railway operating practices and thus fail to ask the questions that will reveal the information we require. Although some mills were not working there were things to see and often the workings seen this year were very different from last year. Rumbos service for the third week was pretty disappointing. Hotels: Personal remark by Georg Karner: I strongly recommend to contact Horizontes - they are probably cheaper. Hire car: |
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Rob Dickinson
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