| MARTA ABREU CIENFUEGOS |
Originally known as San Fransisco, the mill was renamed Marta Abreu in memory of Marta
Abreu de Estévez (1845 – 1909) who was one of the most influential figures of her time in
central Cuba, especially Santa Clara, the city of her birth. Born into a rich family her wealth
enabled her to travel to Europe and the United States from a very young age. This allowed her
to appreciate the differences between most of the developed countries and her own, and to see
how difficult life was for Cubans in the smaller towns and cities. Following her parent’s death
she used her inheritance to commission numerous public works in Santa Clara. These included
homes for the poor, schools, a theatre, laundries and even a power plant to create electricity
for the town. Her support for Cuban independence led her and her husband into exile in
France from where she contributed money to the rebel cause. In 1899 she returned to the
newly free Cuba but with the collapse of the government of Estrada Palma she and her husband
returned to France in 1906. Always dogged by ill health she died in Paris on 2 November 1909.
Abreu de Estévez (1845 – 1909) who was one of the most influential figures of her time in
central Cuba, especially Santa Clara, the city of her birth. Born into a rich family her wealth
enabled her to travel to Europe and the United States from a very young age. This allowed her
to appreciate the differences between most of the developed countries and her own, and to see
how difficult life was for Cubans in the smaller towns and cities. Following her parent’s death
she used her inheritance to commission numerous public works in Santa Clara. These included
homes for the poor, schools, a theatre, laundries and even a power plant to create electricity
for the town. Her support for Cuban independence led her and her husband into exile in
France from where she contributed money to the rebel cause. In 1899 she returned to the
newly free Cuba but with the collapse of the government of Estrada Palma she and her husband
returned to France in 1906. Always dogged by ill health she died in Paris on 2 November 1909.
Baldwin 0-4-0F No.1239 (built 1921)
Fireless locomotives are one of the most remarkable of all locomotives designs. Instead of the normal boiler the engine has a
large tank, or reservoir, and no firebox. The tank is charged with a mixture of steam and hot water from a stationary plant
and this effectively means that the locomotive is a gigantic thermos flask on wheels! In the case of Marta Abreu this was by
means of a pipe leading from the mill building as can be seen below. Normally the boiler is charged to the normal working
pressure of a traditional style of locomotive but pressure is reduced before the steam enters the cylinders. Charging time at
Marta Abreu was about 20 minutes. Once the locomotive moves off and begins to use the available steam, the pressure in the
boiler is reduced causing the hot water to create more steam. This continues until the pressure drops to the point where
steam is no longer created and then the locomotive must return to its charging point. These locomotives are remarkably safe
and easy to operate. They were often to be found in use where there is a risk of fire or explosion, such as chemical and
munition factories, although why they should be used in Cuban sugar mills is something of a mystery unless they were surplus to
requirements in the USA and were brought to the island prior to the revolution. The cab of the locomotive is very simple with
just a regulator and a steam brake. This makes it easy to operate and the locomotive can be used by relatively unskilled
labourers. There are also low maintenance costs with very few working parts and since the locomotive is charged from the
plant it does not require time to build up pressure in the normal way, making it almost instantly available for use.
large tank, or reservoir, and no firebox. The tank is charged with a mixture of steam and hot water from a stationary plant
and this effectively means that the locomotive is a gigantic thermos flask on wheels! In the case of Marta Abreu this was by
means of a pipe leading from the mill building as can be seen below. Normally the boiler is charged to the normal working
pressure of a traditional style of locomotive but pressure is reduced before the steam enters the cylinders. Charging time at
Marta Abreu was about 20 minutes. Once the locomotive moves off and begins to use the available steam, the pressure in the
boiler is reduced causing the hot water to create more steam. This continues until the pressure drops to the point where
steam is no longer created and then the locomotive must return to its charging point. These locomotives are remarkably safe
and easy to operate. They were often to be found in use where there is a risk of fire or explosion, such as chemical and
munition factories, although why they should be used in Cuban sugar mills is something of a mystery unless they were surplus to
requirements in the USA and were brought to the island prior to the revolution. The cab of the locomotive is very simple with
just a regulator and a steam brake. This makes it easy to operate and the locomotive can be used by relatively unskilled
labourers. There are also low maintenance costs with very few working parts and since the locomotive is charged from the
plant it does not require time to build up pressure in the normal way, making it almost instantly available for use.
A year before the above picture,
No.1239 stands on the steam
charging point with a painted
smokebox door reading 'With
Cuba for all times"
No.1239 stands on the steam
charging point with a painted
smokebox door reading 'With
Cuba for all times"
The Spanish colonial influence is
clear to see in the background as
No.1239 moves off to carry out
more shunting duties.
(2 April 1996)
clear to see in the background as
No.1239 moves off to carry out
more shunting duties.
(2 April 1996)
There was a sense of timelessness
in Cuba emphasised by the
number of large American cards
dating from the 1950's that could
still be seen in daily use around
the island. No.1239 shunts a
single cane car in the mill yard in
1997.
in Cuba emphasised by the
number of large American cards
dating from the 1950's that could
still be seen in daily use around
the island. No.1239 shunts a
single cane car in the mill yard in
1997.
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