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Mal Tiempo Mill |
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After Rafael Freyre Mill, Mal Tiempo Mill has probably attracted more photographers than any other in Cuba. The reasons are not hard to find. The countryside is undulating and locomotives have to be worked hard in both directions - the mill uses wyes to turn them so they are almost invariably smokebox first. The oil burners are mounted low under the firebox and this causes massive vibrations which literally cause the earth to move, making it extremely difficult to achieve good sound effects with a video camera. Since enthusiasts first visited, the mill has always used exclusively Baldwin 2-8-0s. At the time of the first visits, smaller 2-8-0s numbered in the 12xx series were the staple motive power. However, as other narrow gauge systems in the area closed or went over to diesels, larger 2-8-0s in the 13xx series took over the trains. Hence most of today's Mal Tiempo roster came from Catorce de Julio, Guillermo Moncada and Ramón Balboa Mills and in some cases are shown at their previous homes on this CD-ROM. In recent years, some of the crews here have gained a reputation for demanding money from visitors. At the same time, I have to say that not only have I experienced this, but I have also experienced great kindness from the staff. |
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