It shouldn't necessarily follow that the same would apply to importing American-made locomotives from Spain just because they happened to spend a few decades working in Cuba. What if they were substantially rebuilt in another country between leaving Cuba and touching these shores? A contract restoration in say Britain or Poland for example?

Strictly in theory, there's yet another argument to be made for waiving restrictions against Cuban repatriation. I can assume that most, if now every last one, of these locos were originally either imported by or purchased for use by AMERICAN companies for use on behalf of sugar mills/companies under American control. Castro and his fellow Marxists seized these assets for state control, without the willing consent of the original owners. Therefore, can we rightfully consider these assets to be of Cuban origin, even after 50+ years under Marxist control?

I can see all sides of the interpretation, and as much as I consider current American policy towards Cuba to be back-assward, I still have to stroke my chin thoughtfully. I do sincerely believe a proper argument FOR repatriation CAN be made, but this is a murky gray area of the worst kind--the kind where we could ask ten State Department officials about the situation, get twenty different answers, and find all of them wrong or unenforceable. If someone wants to be bull-headed enough to pursue this avenue, more power to them, but get enough in writing in advance, and be willing to let your assets and/or money sit in escrow for ten years or so.