Re: South/Central American Steam Questions

Grant Houston Wrote:
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> Thanks Tom! That gives me a much better time
> frame. 1977 is not as late as I would have
> expected, but then, some individual scrappings
> could have happened later.
>
> Do you have any notes about the serviceable
> engines at the time. I recall someone (John
> West?) saying that at one point, about 50 engines
> were in service in the rebirth of steam around
> that time.

In 1971, I can recall Consolidations 102, 104, 108, 116, 119, 120,
121, 123 and 124 working. Also Mikes 153, 154, 156, 159, 161, 165,
168, 174, 177, 178, 180, 181, 182, 183, 188, 193, 194, 200, 201,
202, 203 and 204. There was also Ten-Wheeler 99 on the Pacific
Division and older 2-8-0 66 for stationary steam @ Zacapa.

By 1974, there was Consolidations 104 & 116 along with Mikes 165,
168, 174, 180, 182, 183, 200, 204 and 205.

The last time that I was there in early '77, there was only 4-6-0
99 @ Tecun Uman and the 204 that had been in steam of late although
205 and a couple of others were still considered serviceable. I
rode the 204 for 177 miles from the frontier to GC one nite and ran
there for the last time, taking the 4 car chartered train from
Santa Maria to Escuintla and then up the hill to Palin.