Cuban Steam Locomotives
at
Marcelo Salado, Remedios, Cuba
Marcelo Salado, Remedios, Cuba
My visit to Remedios, Cuba.
By
By
Gyan C. A. Fernando
The Villa Clara Province of Cuba is better known for Che Guevara and his revolutionary activities. A little known tourist attraction here is the Museo de Agroindustria Azucarero Marcelo Salado (Museo del Vapor)
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| Baldwin 4-4-2 No 1342 in steam |
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| Engineer on 1342 |
The Museum of Sugar Industry and Museum of Steam at Remedios, is an old Cuban sugar mill with its own railway.
It is no longer productive but has been converted into a museum of sugar production and also a railway museum.
There are several such museums in Cuba and they attract steam train enthusiasts.
On the 8th of March, 2006, I visited Remedios.
Not many people even know where Remedios is.
I was on this holiday not to spot steam locomotives, but to pay homage to my hero Che Guevara who fought some of his heroic battles in Santa Clara.
However, this visit to Marcelo Salado was irresistible.
A short train was already waiting for us and was hauled by a Baldwin 4-4-2. Because there was no turntable, it was running tender first.
The engineer invited some of us to ride the footplate, an invitation which was eagerly accepted.
Originally coal fired, the loco had been converted to oil firing.
Starting off smoothly we were on our way
We traveled a fair distance to the mill, which is now abandoned and converted into a museum. It was mostly to do with sugar but the railway aspect was interesting.
All in all it was an interesting visit.
It is no longer productive but has been converted into a museum of sugar production and also a railway museum.
There are several such museums in Cuba and they attract steam train enthusiasts.
On the 8th of March, 2006, I visited Remedios.
Not many people even know where Remedios is.
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| Oil firing |
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| Davenport No 1147 0-4-0ST |
However, this visit to Marcelo Salado was irresistible.
A short train was already waiting for us and was hauled by a Baldwin 4-4-2. Because there was no turntable, it was running tender first.
 |
| No 1429 Baldwin |
Starting off smoothly we were on our way
We traveled a fair distance to the mill, which is now abandoned and converted into a museum. It was mostly to do with sugar but the railway aspect was interesting.
Another two Baldwins and a Davenport 0-4-0ST were there.There were a few box cars. rail-cars and a working hand-cranked trolley. To our delight we were allowed to make short runs on the trolley, as long as we behaved overselves!
A tank train hauled by a diesel electric was brought out for our benefit.
All in all it was an interesting visit.
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| No 1429 Baldwin |
Copyright: Gyan C. A. Fernando, 2012
Photographs: All belong to the author and are copyright.
To the lovely Sophie, where ever she may be.
Further Information:
- Preserved steam at Villa Clara: http://www.david-longman.com/Cuba_Villa_Clara.html
- More photos: http://web99.login-23.hoststar.ch/CubaN/Salado/Salado.htm
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