Steam in Paradise - 2005 Part 1
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- Опубликовано: 22 авг 2024
- For several years around the turn of the 20th century, a small company called Steam in Paradise ran tours for enthusiasts to photograph and film steam locomotives in action on the sugar mill lines on the island of Cuba. The tours were jointly run by Ron Lingley and Andy Clark. Sadly Ron died at the untimely age of 54 in 2009. Their knowledge of steam operation at the many sugar mills was extensive. Their method of running tours was somewhat unconventional but they always managed to find the steam action in the best possible light for photography.
The next five videos I will upload were shot during my last tour with Steam in Paradise. By this time Andy and Ron had parted company and Ron was the sole guide. The use of steam to haul sugar cane was very nearly finished. Several steam locomotives that were still in good working order but no longer required for mill work were available to haul special trains on the Cuban main line. Regular steam on the FCC had stopped many years ago so this was a unique opportunity not to be missed.
I have video shot during the 1999, 2000 and 2002 Zafra. I hope to edit and upload this material sometime in the future.
Steam in Paradise - Part 1
In 2005 Gregorio Arlee Manalich was one of the very last mills to use steam traction to haul cane to the mill. At one time both standard and narrow (30") gauge track served this mill but only standard gauge survived in 2005. Baldwin 2-6-0 built in 1918 was in use.
At Jose Maria Perez a Vulcan 2-8-0 built in 1920 was in steam.
At Marcelo Salado a 1920 ALCO 2-8-0 was available. Marcelo Salado was being developed into a steam museum and I believe in still active in 2014.
With very few exceptions, all steam locos used on the sugar mill systems were oil fired. The heavy bunker oil used produced copious quantities of 'clag', there was no need for photographers to ask footplate crew to provide 'smoke on demand'!
That kid waving the train at 15:50 is priceless.
What a shame it's all a memory - and your superb films, of course! Thanks George and Merry Christmas. . . . . . . Alan
Having the sugar mill loco's running on the mainline gave the surprising sight of old American steam alongside a Russian built diesel locomotive and the former DR (Deutsche Reichsbahn from DDR) and later DB railbusses, they were called 'Ferkeltaxi' which means Pigs Cab in English, this because in DDR times it was common for farmers using these trains often had pigs or other livestock with them which they had to bring to the market or abatoir, even in DDR times with the large state run farms they were allowed to have a small amount of farm animals and land for own use.
The use of steam may have ended now, but railways in Cuba are still a wonderfull mix of roling stock from different origins, altough mainly Russian once delivered new and European secondhand now, I don't know about these old American streetcars, do they still survive?
As far as I am aware at least some of the Budd railcars are still in existance. I do not think they usually run under their own power but are pulled by a diesel loco running as a passenger coach in a normal train.
mi tierra linda........