Former Sugar Mill Locomotives in Central Havana to November 2015

Christopher Horne was here in December 2011 and reports (17th December 2011) that 1204 is probably no longer a runner and that 1657 is 'back in the yard at Havana' although the intention is still to restore it.

Three more locomotives have been reported (21st May 2013) 

The following comment on the situation was posted by John Bennett on the Yahoo Cuban Railways Group (added 3rd May 2009):

"The original idea was to fence off the Capitolio site and charge visitors to enter. Locos would be restored under the public's gaze, so to speak, as a tourist attraction. Entry could be through a hole in the wall of the Partagas Cigar Factory next door i.e. visiting the locos could be a part of the visit to the cigar factory. A lot of locos were to be brought to the Capitolio. But some of the locos at the Capitolio are definitely to be taken elsewhere, now, starting with 1138 which was to leave shortly after the PTG tour concluded. Then 1657 which is wanted (in working order!) for a tourist train service to Cienfuegos. Then 1204 which along with 1112 is going to give rides along the waterfront tramway to a new shopping centre in a restored warehouse. The warehouse next to the one being restored as a shopping centre is / was rail connected and could house 20 locos. The track is still in place. It might become the Historian's railway museum...  The park at the station is too small to house all the locos scheduled to be brought to Havana."

Ken Livermore has supplied me a list based upon a November 2015 visit and it is clear that there has been considerable movement, sadly none of it involving live steam power! To make it easier to understand should further movements occur I have sorted the data by gauge and then number (or likely number) and not by location.

Below is the previous list as updated to 2013.

Yard on corner of Dragones and Industria next to Real Fabrica de Tabacos Partegas behind Capitol Building.

This appears to be a resting place for old buses, lorries and locomotives from sugar mills in the heart of the city next to a major tourist attraction. Most are more or less derelict. The compound is fenced off and there is an attendant who uses the cab of number 1307 which doesn’t appear to be on the site. He’ll charge you one convertible peso. The local police also take an interest in foreigners wandering around although they did not prevent photography.

Mark Enderby reports (19th May 2011) that there have been significant changes here, I have divided the list of locos observed here into several parts as a result.

1. Originally reported stock, still present.

2. 2011 additions (by March, reported by Ray Gardiner)

3. 2011 additions (by May, reported by Mark Enderby) - I have been variously given 1180 and 1181 as being here but I have a picture of 1180 at work at home at Rafael Freyre in May 2010...

4. Loco previously reported here, not present in May 2011 but back by December 2011  - see John Bennett's note in the introduction:

Plus cab from 1307 30” gauge Baldwin 2-8-0

Park behind the Arsenal on Egido (opposite Central Railway Station)

This site is also highly visible and is in fact a park although it has been fenced off. The Porter 0-4-4T has been externally restored but has lost its identifying number. Access appears to be possible into the park possibly via the Arsenal 

Mark Enderby reports (19th May 2011) that the following are now also present here:

Trevor Heath gave me access (21st May 2013) to a set of pictures taken in April 2013, the following locos are shown and although they were reported by Clive Hepworth on this site earlier, it seems I forgot to update this page also. No identification is apparent on 1101 although it is with a tender showing that number:

Locomotives in the harbour area (1204 was active in early 2011 but not by December 2011).

Ex MINAZ Locomotives National Railway Museum Christina (Corner of Arroya)

This is the former Ferrocarril del Oeste station in Christina about 800 yards west of the main railway station. It forms a neat museum which deserves to be better known. In addition to mainline locomotives including the Rogers, Ketchum and Gosvernors 4-2-2 La Junta, the oldest locomotive in Cuba it has a selection of ex-sugar mill locomotives. The gem of this collection is the Manning Wardle 0-6-0ST which has been restored from derelict condition at Gregorio Manalich Mill. The other MINAZ locomotives are stored outside and are starting to suffer from the weather although they have been externally restored (except for the Fireless locomotive). Mark Enderby reports that a derelict Baldwin narrow gauge 2-6-0 (11xx) is dumped on the far side of the station (added 19th May 2011).