Cuban Narrow Guage Sugar Cane Train

[Rail and Tie]

I just got back from Cuba and thought I would share some photos of this functioning narrow guage train that they were still using, mostly for tourism. The steam loco's still work, but were broke down when we were there so we went for a ride on the blue doodlebuggie type of thing. Fun trip.

The cigars and rum flowed like water as well!!

Hope you enjoy the photos.

Darryl

P2140624.jpg (136.06 KiB) Viewed 854 times

P2140613.jpg (146.68 KiB) Viewed 854 times

P2140626.jpg (200.92 KiB) Viewed 854 times

P2140664.jpg (122.19 KiB) Viewed 854 times

[Rail and Tie]

P2140609.jpg (73.31 KiB) Viewed 853 times

P2140606.jpg (132.33 KiB) Viewed 853 times

P2140601.jpg (123.43 KiB) Viewed 853 times

P2140611.jpg (126.67 KiB) Viewed 853 times

[Rail and Tie]

P2140619.jpg (137.14 KiB) Viewed 852 times

P2140612.jpg (122.03 KiB) Viewed 852 times

[NEMMRRC]

# 47 is way cool!

Jaime

[postalkarl]

Hi Daryll:

Nice photos. How did you get to go to Cuba. I thought it was off limits to US travelers or have things changed. Did you have a good cigar while you were there?

Thanks for the photos.

Karl

[rebel]

Hi Daryll:

Nice photos. How did you get to go to Cuba. I thought it was off limits to US travelers or have things changed. Did you have a good cigar while you were there?

Thanks for the photos.

Karl

Was never fully, off limits, you could always go via Mexico.

[Rail and Tie]

Actually, I am Canadian and we fly direct to Cuba from here. I understand that US traveller are technically allowed in the country by Cuba, but the US government does not allow US citizans to go to Cuba. Interesting enough, as a US person in Cuba, you are allowed to be there, but not allowed to spend any money!! All to do with the still active embargo.

The country is sure a mix of pre 1960's technology, architecture and US vehicles. You would think there was a classic car show in town, but that is what they drive!! after the US imposed the embargo, most vehicles were russian Lada's and such until the collapse of the USSR in the 90's. Now mostly simple chinese and Korean cars. No infrastructure to fix vehicles so you can't have very complex vehicles.

It would have been fun to explore that trains a bit more than the time I had. I would have liked to detail much more of the old sugarcane works....

Darryl

[Rail and Tie]

...Oh yah and the cigars were wonderful!! I especially like the Montecristo's and the Romeo y Julieta's, though the Cohibas were great too. The Cohiba's are overpriced and really became expensive and famous when Castro said it was his favorite Cigar brand. The price tripled!! I managed to get a cigar factory tour and it was just like you see in the movies. a bunch of peole hand rolling them and the propoganda voices and lout music over very bad speakers!! IT was wild to see room fulls of cigars being sorted and packaged!! I did not see any cigars being rolled on the thighs of sweaty young virgins though so that fantasy is gone!

The rum was great and cheap as well. $11.00 for 7 year old and $15 for the 12 year old!!!

D

[tabooma county rwy]

Darryl, great photos! I really like that one of the bridge.

Al Carter

[Night Train]

The RR you visited looks a lot like the Central Rafael Freyre in Holguin. I think the bridge appears in the Adolph Hungry Wolf videos.