Crystal River #11 in Cuba

Hi Everett and Doug,

The available information on Cuban locomotives is based on the mill names, not the owning company. Compania Azucarera Madrozo S.A may have been the owners but finding which mill(s) they owned is a challenge. No Google hits on the company name.

The builders number 13634 does not appear in the Minaz list and the pre Minaz list assembled by Leach, but rather interestingly there is a Baldwin 2-8-0 built in 1893 with road number 3 and a builders number listed as 13834! The mill it worked at was Central Alava in Matanzas province. This mill had both standard and 36" gauge trackage. When visited in 1996, all steam locos were listed as derelict. One 36" gauge 2-6-0 was noted as derelict and on its side. No other 36" gauge locos were present. This mill became Central Mexico and it apparently stopped using steam a long time before. The list of standard gauge engines known to have been there at one time is impressive, with builders dates between 1852 and 1913, including an 1876 Danforth! #3 is included in the list of standard gauge locos, but could well be in error.

When railfans first started making trips to Cuba in 1974 to document the existing steam locomotives, Central Mexico was listed as having no steam. Someone finally got around to visiting in 1996 and reported on what was left. My guess is, Crystal River #11 has long since been reduced to locally produced rebar and used to build one of the many unfinished bridges and buildings that litter post revolution Cuba.

Michael Allen