Re: When were most of the FEGUA steam locomotives scrapped?

I used to keep a notebook with the numbers of the locomotives that were stored derelict in
Guatemala City. This was from late 1971 to early 1977. It was not until the last visit in 1977 that
I finally noticed a few were missing and had gone to scrap. Management at that time, Sr. Fedelino
Vargas, confirmed that a few with good boilers had gone for stationary use.

By notebook in 1974: 39,123,169,187,189 in Escuintla with 250 and 251 remains
185, 167, 110 in Zacapa
173, 152, 163, 150, 190, 191, 170, 160, 151, 192, 107, 157, 166,
179, 103, 162, 71, 42, 171, 184, 43, 38, 172, 155, 164, 65 (cab only),
106 and 80 in Guatemala City. All of the 2 digit numbers are older Consolidations
except 80 which is a Mogul. 100 to 125 are modern Consolidations. 150 to 206
are the K-27 size Mikados, with 154-156 being Porters, 162-174 being the 13 Krupps
and all the others are Baldwins. I believe that Baldwin 2-8-2 198 may have been the first
of the class to be stricken from the roster as I never did see her in 6 visits. Sister 197 had
been leased to the plantation line at Bananera.

There was still active steam on both Divisions at this time and a trickle into at least 1977.
Ten Wheeler 99 saw sporadic use as a switcher at Tecun Uman, the interchange at the
border with the NdeM. As far as when the last revenue use of any of the Krupps occured,
I can only add that they were still being used on both Divisions in 1975. Dave Sell & I witnesed
both 165 and 174 leave the port of Barrios for Bananera one April evening with a long train of
empties that returned several hours later for unloading the bananas onto a freighter.

Hope this is some help.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/06/2017 03:56PM by Tom Moungovan.