Cuban Steam Havest last season? *LINK*

Just finished a two week tour with Trains Unlimited Tours to Cuba. The first hurtle is getting a legal tour for US citizens to Cuba. The choices in tours are limited. The Europeans, Latin Americans, Australians and New Zealanders and Asian countries have all been visiting the island during all the past harvest seasons.
This years harvest may be the last for the use of Steam Locomotives in the transport of cane. More diesels have been made available to the sugar industry railroads. The import of ex-NdeM GE diesels have released more diesels for the sugar railroads. The crop of sugar cane is being cut back and new crops are being grown in their place.
The few mills (Centrals) that were using standard gauge steam were Ecuador, Ifrain Alfonso, Diez de Octobre, Ciro Redondo and Orlando Gonzalez Ramirez. Venezuela mill has 2-8-0 in reserve. Most of the movements are from loading points to mills or inter mill. We did not visit all the mills in Cuba. However these were the ones that had steam this harvest season.
Since this is a narrow gauge forum the future of narrow gauge steam is not good. The only railroad that was using steam was the 30 inch gauge Central Gregorio Arlee Manalich. They roster three Baldwin outside frame 2-8-0s and are milling and loading cane on the small rail system. The line is build on concrete ties and use a fleet of highside cane cars with no air brakes on the cars.
The other lines that are 30 inch gauge that are closed for harvesting cane are Mal Tiempo, Pepito Tey and the more well known Rafael Freyre. These line are now operating charter photo freights and tourist trains. The other operating cane harvesting line is the unusal 27.5 inch gauge Central Obdulo Morales using Russian diesels. This line is also connected to two other lines, Central Simon Bolivar and Central Aracelio Iglesias. The lines are operating under one operation. The Simon Bolivar engine house has several outside frame 2-8-0s in storage. The Morales enginehouse has two 2-8-0s available for charter. We operated a steam charter from the Central in Morales to a loading point about 8 KM. away.
Next year will see many trains dieselized. The steam will be held for charters and tourist. The Mal Tiempo and Pepito Tey are being developed into narrow gauge tourist lines as well as Rafael Freyre. Nearby to Mal Tiempo is the Espartico mill and another 30 inch gauge line. It operated a charter last year on the TUT trips. However this year it was closed.
Steam locomotive will continued to held by the Sugar Ministry as heritage sites. The possibility of sales to the other countries are a possibility, as the Cuban Government needs cash.
Several Steam Festivals are being planned for November in Cuba.They are to be hosted by Mal Tiempo, Cienfruegos, Moron and one other line. A small museum is now in Havana with a 36 inch gauge loco from Central Sandino on display. The museum is at the Cristina Station of the Federal Raillroad. This will be much of the future of steam tours to Cuba.
Dale Brown
Montgomery, OH.