|
|
Osvaldo Sánchez Mill lies a few kilometres south of Güines. It appears to be an old mill and not in very good order and at the time of compilation had been shut for a couple of years. Unofficial visitors here have never been encouraged and I (and others) have usually had to discreetly park our vehicles out of sight and wait for activity. At which point, mill security would then arrive and an early departure be suggested....
It has, however, operated a fascinating fleet of steam locomotives over the years. Most of the mill system was 2ft 6in gauge and although several locomotives are no longer active we have photographs of (nearly) all of them. Maps show the narrow gauge system connecting with that of Gregorio Arlee Mañalich Mill to the west, although since both systems have gradually been cut back over the years, it is not clear whether the connection is still in place. Indeed, 1999 visitors have reported the abandonment of the remaining narrow gauge and its partial conversion to standard gauge (that part to the loading point east of the mill). Just what will happen to the narrow gauge steam locomotives remains to be seen.
On the standard gauge, the outstanding attraction has been the delightful 1894 Rogers 2-4-2T which for many years was the regular patio locomotive - the rarity of its operation being added to by the mixed gauge track which allowed it to shunt narrow gauge wagons into the crusher. For line working, the 1912 Alco 2-6-0 1507 was usually the mill favourite, although Porter 2-6-0 1712 was an occasional performer. For 1999, however, it was a case of 'all change', with Porter 0-4-4T 1205 (from Manuel Isla Pérez Mill) and 1681 (from far away Antonio Maceo Mill in Holguín Province) being the preferred power to assemble trains which were then transferred to the large mill at Héctor Molina Riano some miles to the east.
|
|
