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The International Steam Pages |
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Sugar Mills in Cuba Part 4 |
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Click here to return to the Cuba Sugar Mill Index Page
If you sat around the swimming pool at Los Caneyes in Santa Clara in February/March each year you would sooner or later meet virtually every globe-trotting steam enthusiast. The mills accessible from here offer a wide variety of power in better than average scenery. However, beware of the weekends when most mills seem to operate well below full capacity. Trinidad tourist train Index Only one report which stated that this did not work for quite a time with 1551 (ex mill 438) being dumped at Magua with the left hand piston and rod missing - perhaps for repairs. The line from Sancti Spiritus to Trinidad has a regular railcar service. 401 Heriberto Duquesne Index Visited 26.2.97 No sign of any dumped steam 403 Mal Tiempo Index Being the nearest n.g. steam mill to Santa Clara, well reported and with good action, visitors flock here (the standard gauge LP has been diesel for many years). This year they reported mixed experiences here, with at least one crew coming over very heavy in demands for 'goodies' and various acts of petty vandalism while on the lineside. However, as usual most of the crews were co-operative and enjoyed the attention. Locos work smokebox first to and from the LPs (La Theresa and La Vega) en route to Potrerillo (although short sections such as La Vega from La Theresa may be tender first.). The line twists and undulates and locos are thrashed hard on the climbs, the proximity of the burners to the ground causing vibrations which bring about strange sound effects on videos. Various dirt tracks lead to the line from the main road running south-east from Cruces. There are regular trips through the day, although more than most mills this one tends to be quiet on Sundays and early on Mondays. There are maps in CRJ 104 and WS 128. 1221, 1345 repairs 404 Ciudad Caracas Index Two visitors reported that the mill was not working and all locos were in the shed (but see mill 433). There is one LP next to the mill. Bryan Acford suggests there may be LPs north of the Autopista, not far from Pozo on the mill 440 system - in 1996 there were burner marks on lines to the north. Does anyone have more information? 1538, 1621, 1724, 1725 dead on shed 405 Luis Arcos Bergnes Index This mill proved very popular with 1997's visitors. There is regular traffic between the mill and the LP SE of the mill, crossing the FCC at Carmita, the light being particularly good in the late afternoon. This year, the loco worked smokebox first back to the mill, occasionally abandoning its load before entering the mill. Another regular working involves tripping hoppers from the FCC to the mill, often at about 09.00 in the morning. No one reported workings to the LP west along the FCC towards Santa Clara. There is a map in WS 136. 1539, 1541, 1622 in use 406 Guilermo Moncada Index Visited 14.2.97 All diesel at this 2' 6" mill, with steam 1126 preserved outside. Next to it is a stationery steam mill engine, buil by McOnie and Mirrlees of Glasgow in 1851. At a village called Dos Hermanos on the road to 416 Catorce de Julio, another stationery steam engine survives from the mill here closed about 1929. It was built by Mirrlees Watson and Yeryan of Glasgow. Parque Alto near Rodas Index Visited 14.2.97 This mill was closed pre-revolution; dumped for many years on an embankment at the back of the village and near the FCC line is a n.g. 2-6-0 Henschel, unchanged since a visit in 1988. The motion has the number 12504. There is a large tree growing through the frame; the chimney is still extant and the driving wheels but not the pony truck. 407 Abel Santamaria Index Visited 23.2.97 2'6" gauge 2 (1129?) is preserved by the mill. Around the other side of this standard gauge mill are 1425 on which repairs were started and then abandoned and 1752 dumped. Diesels working. 408 Mariana Grajales Index Visited 23.2.97 Diesels working. The shed was empty with no sign of 1224 and 1540 which were here. Either they have been dumped away from the shed or scrapped. 409 Antonio Sánchez Index A mill which uses steam quite a bit, but seems to escape much attention. Most visitors found steam only on shunts (if that) in 1997, but in 1996 two locos were known to be working north towards Aguada and east of the mill. At 11.00 on 19.3.97 (this was probably a diesel substitution) 1623 was found working tender first south along the line that runs parallel to the Aguada to Cienfuegos road, just south of mill 424. It ran round its train and headed back to the mill at about 12.00. 1623, 1624, 1629 in use 411 José Maria Peréz Index CRJ 107 confirmed no steam 412 Juan Pedro Carbó Serviá Index Very limited steam working with 1728 (as required) working to the first LP. 1727 out of use and 1427 scrapped. 413 Espartaco Index There are few centenarian steam locos left in the world today and even fewer regularly engaged on line work so it was a real pleasure to see 1895 Baldwin 1326 at work here in 1997. There are loading points immediately north and south of the mill, but the main interest is the line which runs east to San Fernando de Camrones to the LP at Jicotea on route. The line crosses the FCC on the flat at San Fernando, but more attractive are the two metal bridges on either side of the town. Nearer the mill after Jicotea, the line climbs steeply and twists through open countryside. 1130 and 1131 are fireless locos and alternate duties in the mill area. 1130, 1131, 1326, 1327, 1328, 1329 in use 414 Remberto Abad Alemán Index The IRS book reports 'No Steam'. 415 Braulio Coroneaux Index The 1894 built Baldwin (1132 assumed) is still preserved at the shed. Otherwise all diesels, which arrived about 20 years ago according to the shed staff. 416 Catorce de Julio Index CRJ 107 reports all steam out of use. 417 Veintiséis de Julio Index The IRS book reports 'No Steam'. 418 Obdulio Morales Index This mill did not work in 1997 according to nearly all visitors (Bryan Acford found it at work on Feb 7th) but the rail system was in use shipping cane to nearby mill 448 Simon Bolivar However, activity did seem much reduced with most of the work being carried out by diesels. Most visitors reported steam sitting on shed idle for long periods. In a normal season, there are main lines east and west. Traditionally, the west line is steam operated, being followed by a dirt road most of the way. Although sections are heavily grassed in, it passes through the middle of an attractive village near the far end. The east line (usually diesel in recent years) passes to the south of mill 448, crossing the 'Hill line' at Centeno. There is a map in WS 96/6. 1333, 1334, 1354, 1366 in use 419 Siete de Noviembre Index The IRS book reports 'Railway System Closed'. 420 Emilio Córdova Index The IRS book reports 'No Steam'. 421 Aracelio Iglesias Index The IRS book reports 'No Steam'. 423 Osvaldo Herrera Index The IRS book reports 'Railway Closed'. 424 Primero de Mayo Index A mill at which most activity seems to be missed by enthusiasts because it is not regular. On 5.3.97, 1545 worked empties smokebox first under the Autopista just west of Aguada Services at about 14.15. Half an hour later it returned tender first from the nearby LP with fulls. According to staff at the service station this had been occurring 'for several days because they had problems with their diesels'. There were certainly other workings during the season in particular to Victoria just south of Aguada and I was told that hoppers (diesel hauled) from mill 409 Antonio Sánchez were regularly shunted by steam in the late afternoon. 1543, 1545, 1848 in use 425 Elpidio Gómez Index The IRS book reports 'Last Steam Transferred Away'. 426 Perucho Figuerdo Index The IRS book reports 'Last Steam Transferred Away'. 427 Quintín Banderas Index Visited 23.2.97 1145, preserved, has been moved and now faces the main road at the mill entrance. 1548 was in steam in the mill yard with 1547 dead on shed. 37xxx also on shed. A surprise in the shed was to find 1823, ex 447 Unidad Proletaria having very major firebox repairs. A large part of the inner and outer firebox had been cut away. Staff claimed that when it is back in working order (surely not this season) it will do line work at this mill, which is interesting as line work has been all diesel for some years. 1548 was again active shunting in mid-March. 428 Marcelo Salado Index This mill has rightly become well known for the high standards of loco presentation. Unfortunately, for some reason access to the mill area was regularly thwarted in 1997. There are regular trips to the LP just west of the mill. Further LPs in use this year were those on the Dolores branch, on the branch to the N of Remedios station and on a branch from Carolina further west. The station staff at Remedios are extremely helpful in locating locos on the line. The roadside section between there and the mill is the regular site of the gricers' Grand Prix. In early February 37080 was on loan here from Centrale Bataille de Santa Clara. There is a map in WS 97/7 which also reported the arrival of LD Porta's loco 1816 here which will no doubt do wonders for the numbers of visitors here in 1998. 1343 pilot 429 José R Riquelme Index 1645 dead, looks used. Frame of 1750 as in previous years. 430 Antonio Finalet Index CRJ 107 confirms all steam out of use. 431 Ramón Balboa Index CRJ 107 confirms all steam out of use. 432 Chiquitico Fanbregat Index Still 3ft 0 in gauge and all diesel. 433 Marta Abreu Index Fireless 1239 was working. According to WS 97/3 at least one lucky visitor found a Caracas 2-8-0 working here too. There is a map in WS 144. 434 Panchito Gómez Toro Index Visited 23.2.97 1626 used, having boiler washout. 1633 now dumped, boiler repairs having been abandoned. 37xxx and 38xxx diesels working. 2ft 6in gauge 1240 still dumped here Although believed scrapped, staff claimed that n.g. 1154 and 1155 dumped here until a couple of years ago had gone elsewhere - one to Havana province and one to Ciego province IF this is correct ... they really could be museum pieces. 435 Hermanos Ameijeiras Index (2 reports) 1373 was shunting the yard. This involved hauling full cane cars out of the yard a short distance down the main line giving a reasonable impression of a main line train. Various diesels present and on line work. A few km further on, in the town of Zulueta, the old 3'0" gauge common carrier station is used as a bus station. A water tank and column (with the metal extension piece lying on the ground) are also still extant. 1373 in use 437 Carlos Caraballo Index Certainly one loco was used regularly here working to the near LP, definitely 1556, possibly 1550 on other occasions, with a diesel substituting There is a map in WS 144. 438 Ramón Ponciano Index CRJ 107 reports 1552 and 1634 were still here but since entry was refused, steam activity was unknown. 439 El Vaquerito Index CRJ 107 reports all steam out of use. 440 Ifrain Alfonso Index This mill is popular with visitors not just for the two large 2-8-2s which have been restored to working order in recent years but also the well known level crossing of the Autopista which even the most geriatric of enthusiasts (in an air conditioned bus) can get to easily from Santa Clara after a lie in and late breakfast. In 1997, steam operations were complicated by the closure of the mill, officially for improvements, but few if any visitors saw many signs of them. Cane was going to either mill 437 (Carlos Caraballo) or mill 441 (Diez de Octubre) hauled by steam or diesel and just about every visitor saw different movements. There were certainly days when 1850 or 1910 took out empties to on the far side of the Autopista in the morning returning to the junction at Santa Maria by midday, leaving the fulls for onward transmission. 1635 or 1636 would work to the first loading point and then on to one of the other mills. But is it also clear that these workings were sometimes diesel, that the locos might face the opposite way round than usual and that the inter-mill workings might be steam or diesel. Certainly, several visitors found 1635 or 1636 at Ranchuelo going to or coming from mill 441 and one visitor saw 1850 on its way there. There is a map in WS 144. 1635, 1636, 1850, 1910 in use 441 Diez de Octubre Index Steam is used only within the mill area normally. There is a map in WS 144. 1661 in use 442 Héctor Rodriguez Index CRJ 107 reports no steam activity. 443 Pepito Tey Index There are 3 lines worked at this mill. There is a large LP to the north of the mill on the approach road, which has a steep gradient for empties. There is a second LP to the NE of the mill. Locos work smokebox first uphill on these lines, which are best photographed in the morning (or late afternoon to for the N LP). The final line leaves the back of the mill and curves round the contours before reaching the LP some 8 km west of the mill. This line can be followed most of the way by a road which leads off from the west side of the mill. The LP itself is approachable from the main road from Cienfuegos (opposite the large thatched hut). The locos are generally in good condition, which is more than can be said for the mill. When it operates effectively, the steam activity is tremendous. There is a map in WS 136. 1236 pilot 444 FNTA Index CRJ 107 reports no steam activity. 445 Melanio Hernández Index CRJ 107 reports no steam activity. 446 Carlos Baliño Index Very little if any steam activity in 1997, probably just a single loco on standby. 447 Unidad Proletaria Index All diesel worked with 1346 OOU at the shed. 1823 had gone to mill 427 (see above). 1595 is still dumped a short distance from the shed. 448 Simón Bolivar Index By common consent the 'Bank at Bolivar' is now one of the highlights of Cuba. This 'funny gauge' (2'3¾") mill seems to work mainly to Jobo Rosado which is a LP on a hill/ledge several hundred feet above the coastal plain, although there are loading points nearer the mill - Tim Murray was lucky enough to see 1138 working to the nearest LP early in the season. This line leaves the mill to the east before swinging south to cross the east line from mill 418 and the main road at Centeno. This is where the climb starts and it seems regular practice to split the train here and take up empties (and bring down fulls) in 2 parts. Between Centeno (Km 8) and the top (Km 15), there is one large bridge near Km 11, ideal for photography up to 14.00 and again later in the afternoon if trains are running very late. There is a motorable track about 500m east of the level crossing at the end of the scrapyard, which can be used to reach the edge of the trees just after Km 10. Although much of the climb is closed in with trees, this remains one of the outstanding visual operations in Cuba. Near the top there is a large Baobab-like tree which makes a good background. The whole trip is total thrash.... There is a wye and watering point at the top, the loco may be turned before or after (or not at all) going to the LP which is a further unattractive 2 km along the top of the hill. From observation the first train up was rarely before 11.00 and could be as late as 13.00. There is road access to the top by turning south in Yaguajay and then left at Meneses. There are other shorter workings and some diesels here, which may substitute. There is a map in WS 96/6. 1138 pilot (although replaced by a diesel later on the season) 449 George Washington Index This mill has just one serviceable loco (1639) kept on standby. No one has reported any significant activity here. The IRS book reports 'Railway System Closed'. Click here to return to the Cuba Sugar Mill Index Page |
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Rob Dickinson
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