Interesting page on banana railways in Central and South America, including a photo of one of the Porter Moguls, unidentified, but possibly one that is presently in the US.

http://www.geocities.com/ferrobanana/

There are at least six of these that were sighted until recently; four in the United States, two in Cuba. A Guatemala Railways 2-6-0 also is/was operational in Japan.

-James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a

Surviving World Steam Project

I spent two years in Honduras, and found several steam locomotives on display down there. I'll have to look through my photos, but I believe the one in the very nice park in La Ceiba was a mogul, though I don't know of what make.
In addition to that locomotive, there are a couple of cars and a motor car in that park. San Pedro Sula has what I believe is a USA 2-8-2 restored cosmetically and La Lima has a similar engine in a terrible state of disrepair. I'll try and get the photos posted soon.
I loved seeing the rails down there, but alas, very little is rolling on them. The lines originally went from the greater San Pedro Sula area all the way out to Olanchito and beyond, by way of La Ceiba. When the trucks took over, the rails were mostly stolen and sold for scrap. When I left the country three years ago, there was one train once a week from San Pedro Sula to Puerto Cortes. All were pulled by a motley collection of what looked like GE 70 tonners, with Caterpillar prime movers. It was interesting, and a little taste of home, but sad to not see it running.

According to my notes, it is a 2-4-0, H.K. Porter 5629/1915. It is a Standard Fruit engine; maybe it is a Mogul and my notes are wrong.



I was not aware of the engine at La Lima; I would like to know more about it. I am also looking forward to seeing your pictures; thank you in advance.

-James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a

Surviving World Steam Project