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The International Steam Pages |
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Sugar Mills in Cuba Part 1 |
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Click here to return to the Cuba Sugar Mill Index Page
In the area west of Havana, 95% of visitors go to mills 105 and 107, a few get to 103. Parque Lenin, Habana Index The 9˝ km long 3'0" gauge pleasure railway within the park is back in action (fare 3 Pesos), probably only at weekends although no-one has confirmed this. Locos are repaired/exchanged with mill 105. On Friday 28.2.97 2 (BLW 56920/1923 ex mill 105) was cold but our reporter was told it would be used 'next day'. On Sunday 30.3.97 the train was worked by 1, VIW 2761/1917. On Sunday 20/4/97: 1 was in steam and 2/3 dead on shed. 1 was prepared to leave the shed with a train at 12.00 but injector troubles delayed the departure until 13.15. There were two diesel locos at the main station, 2103 a GE 4wDE and 1979 the B-2 DH built at FCC Camaguey, the latter out of use. A 2'6" gauge steam loco is on display by the park railway's Inglesi station. This is number 3, 2-6-0 HKP 5727/1915 101 Abraham Lincoln Index This mill has not used steam locomotives for many years. 102 Harlem Index All rail facilities have been removed and cane is delivered by road. 103 Eduardo Garcia Lavendero Index This mill sees significant diesel working and some reports speak of inter mill operation with 101 Abraham Lincoln. The shed foreman is pro-steam and has probably been a significant influence in the retention of steam locos. 1302, 1704, 1705 in use 1302 may be used on the patio or on short/light hauls. The other locos share line work with the diesels. The busiest line would appear to be that towards Villegas/Ramal Guanajay (NE) which runs to the outskirts of the town for which it is named. Cane is also hauled over the lines towards Cayajabos/Ramal Matienze(W). There is a map in WS 97/6. 104 Sierra Maestre Index The mill has been demolished and all evidence of the railway removed. 105 Augusto César Sandino Index This 3'0" system has been almost completely rebuilt in the last few years, reopening in 1996 after several years out of use. The main line runs to the east of the mill. At the first LP there is a junction, one line continues east whilst a second swings to the north-east towards Dos Hermanos. The north-east line serves one copio but is being extended to another, the track being in place but some ballasting is still required. There is a marvellous grandstand position just east of the mill, ideal for late afternoon photography. There is a map in WS 97/6. 1350 , 1382, 1404 in use 106 Manuel Sanguily Index Although the IRS book reported no railway, the 3'0" dieselised system was restored in the early 90s. 107 Pablo de la Torriente Brau Index This is a near 100% steam mill with relatively small locos which are worked hard. There are three lines. Adjacent to the mill there is a short stub to the Via Blanca copio. To the north there is a line to the LP at Bramales. The main line runs down hill (S) crossing the main road near where there is a short branch to the Recompensa LP which appears to generally be worked separately from the other two LPs on the line. It continues west to the LPs at San Ignacia and Libertadad. There is a map in WS 97/6. 1103, 1401, 1501, 1505, 1662, 1703, in use 108 José Marti Index The mill has an allocation of three 37, and all the steam locos formerly here have all been transferred away. 1401 to 107 P.T.Brau (1996/97) 109 Orlando Nordarse Index Until 1984 this had a 2'10˝" gauge steam system. It is now (dieselised) 2'6" gauge with a link between the mill and a LP about 1km to the south. 30 de Noviembre Index Opened 1980-81. Capacity 6,900 TCD. Click here to return to the Cuba Sugar Mill Index Page |
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Rob Dickinson
Email: webmaster@internationalsteam.co.uk