Cuba - American Steam in the Sugar Mills, 1998 (Part 1)
Вставка
- Опубліковано 18 вер 2024
- Cuba in the 1990's was a treasure trove of American built steam power, sadly hidden from my American steam friends because politics got in the way.
In this first part of my re-edited footage from the time, we see two of the many sugar mills which were using US built steam locomotives - CAI. Ifraim Alfonso and CAI. Orlando Gonzales Ramires.
At the first mill, we see Alco 2-8-0 1637, Alco 2-8-2 1910 and Baldwin 2-6-2 1635. This system featured a remarkable flat crossing of the island's only motorway, right alongside a fine bridge built for the railway by the Russians but never put into use!
The second mill has the US built 2-8-0 1836 together with a fascinating selection of vehicles from the USA, UK and Russia.
Recorded on tape in April and June 1998.
Part Two is here - • Cuba - American Steam ...
4:00 !! Look at loco sliding to a stop !!
I've watched steam locomotives being operated all around the world and I have to say that these locos in Cuba were the worst treated by the crews of all that I have seen. Sadly they're all gone now ...... Andy
At least they were built by Baldwin in America!
where these preserved?
No. They were in daily use. Some are preserved now but not many ...... Andy
Wonder how the locomotive in the beginning got the n&w a class whistle
That first one definitely sounds like a N&W freight whistle, a "hooter"
Alco and Baldwin would have fitted whichever whistle was specified by the operation in Cuba at the time of order. The Baldwin seems to have the "hooter" and the Alco seems to have the chime whistle ....... Andy
It could possibly be a German whistle. There are a few German locomotives in Cuba and German whistles sound pretty similar to N&W hooters.
I was in Cuba in 1998 right after the Pope visited. It’s one of my favorite countries! Gracias👍✌️😊🙏🏼🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂
I'm pleased you're enjoying my videos. I also found Cuba to be a great place to visit with extremely friendly people. It's a shame that these steam locos aren't there to enjoy any more! ....... Andy
I'm imagining these locomotives date from before the communist revolution, but do you know when exactly? The pointless bridge does indeed seem to be a standard fare in many communist countries...
As far as I'm aware, all the locomotives were supplied new for work in Cuba. They'll probably date from around the 1910 to 1925 period or, in the case of No.1910, the 1930's I would guess ...... Andy
Fantastic atmosphere. What a poor country it was and still is. :-(
I did really enjoy my visits to Cuba though - everyone was very friendly ... Andy
I don't think that it is a class A whistle.The class A was a 300 psi boiler this little kettle was maybe 160 it sounds bright and crisp like its running on the right pressure it also looks way to small
.
I'm feel sure that both Alco and Baldwin could build locomotives to whatever specification was ordered for use in Cuba, including which whistle to fit ......... Andy
Does 1635 still exists ?
According to the latest information I can find, number 1635 is on display near to the sugar mill featured in this video ....... Andy
👍👍
The other whistles sound like they're SP.
The whistles would have been fitted by Baldwin and Alco at the time of manufacture, either to the specification of the operator in Cuba or, possibly, using whatever stock they had available at the time ...... Andy