The International Steam Pages


The Dominican Republic
Sugar Industry Railways (Closed)

Thomas Kautzor has been to several Caribbean islands to check out what is left of their railways and industrial heritage. 

For the full general index, see Railway Relics (and more) in the Caribbean,

Thomas Kautzor visited the Dominican Republic with Torsten Schneider from 24th February to 14th March 2014, the other reports are:

Between 1948 and 1956, under the rule of President Trujillo, most of the sugar industry was nationalized and then became the private property of Trujillo and members of his family. Only the sugar mills owned by the U.S.-owned South Puerto Rico Sugar Company (including Central La Romana) and those owned by the Dominican Vicini family (Angelina, Cristobal Colon and CAEI) were exempt. After Trujillo’s death, the sugar mills were turned over into state property on 14th November 1962 and from 19th August 1966 operated by the Consejo Estatal del Azúcar (CEA).

In the late 1990s, with many of the state-owned mills urgently needing investment to modernize, the mills were leased to private companies. While a few were taken over by mostly foreign investors, most mills were closed and demolished.

While in 1997 twelve mills still used railways to haul cane from the fields to the mills, in most of these have since been closed and only three active mills (Central La Romana, Ingenio Cristobal Colon and Ingenio Barahona) still use railways.

The following mills, first listed from east to west in the southern part of the country and then those on the north coast, are all either closed or have stopped using railways. All of the mills around San Pedero de Macoris and east of Santo Domingo used 762 mm gauge and were at one time connected, allowing an interchange of locomotives and rolling stock as well as of cane at times when a mill was in stoppage.

Ingenio Porvenir, San Pedro de Macoris (74 km east of Santo Domingo): (March 9th)

This mill was opened by the Kelly family in 1879 or 1884. In 1923, it had 25 miles of railway, including 14 miles of main line, with one major 500-feet bridge. With seven steam locomotives (two 8.5-ton, three 21-ton, one 12.5-ton and 33.5-ton), 60 10-ton and 130 5-ton cane cars it carried 150,000 tons of cane per year. It was nationalized in 1953. In 1978 it operated with one 70-ton and two 50-ton steam locomotives and one 45-ton diesel locomotives, four railcars, 321 10-ton cane cars and five special wagons. Later, the steam locomotives were replaced by GE diesels.

In 1999 the mill was leased to Central Azucarera del Este (CEA) until 2006 and was still operating in 01/2007. It must have closed shortly thereafter. It had a milling capacity of 3,200 tons/day. Since closure, the railway network has been lifted and the stock scrapped, with the rail yard and workshops area next to the mill redeveloped for housing. Recently the mill was taken over by a private company who plans to reopen it, using road haulage. All that’s left of the railway at the mill is a hand-pump trolley plinthed inside the North Gate.

On a plinth at the Monumento traffic circle in San Pedro de Macoris is Baldwin 2-6-0 38478/1912 (new to Ingenio Santa Fé), which up to at least 1994 was plinthed at the Ing. Porvenir school.

Ingenio Santa Fé, San Pedro de Macoris (NE of town): (March 9th)

This mill was opened by the South Puerto Rico Sugar Co. in 1885. In 1923 it had 105 miles of main lines and as many of branch lines, as well as two major bridges (including a 500-feet suspension bridge). At that time it operated 16 Baldwin 41.5-ton steam locomotives, 400 cane cars, 82 flat cars, eight molasses tank cars, ten water tank cars and four oil tank cars, and carried 280,000 tons of freight (including 240,000 tons of sugar cane, 24,000 tons of sugar and 16,000 of firewood). In 1962, over 80% of the cane was still hauled by bagasse-fired steam locomotives, but later in the decade these were replaced by GE diesel locomotives. In 1978, one 24-ton 190 h.p. diesel and three 45-ton 350 h.p. diesels were in use, together with three railcars, 331 10-ton cane cars and six special wagons. In 1994 there were still around 100 miles of track in use. The mill, with a capacity of 3,200 tonnes/day, closed after the 1994/95 season, but the railway remained in use to haul cane to Ingenio Consuelo. By 1997 the trackage had been reduced to 52 miles. By then the diesel locomotives were maintained at Consuelo, with the Santa Fé shed only doing wagon repairs.

In 1999, the mill was leased to Central Azucarera del Este (CEA) until 2006, but the mill was never reopened and had been dismantled by 01/2007. The land has since been used for housing development. Remains of the mill include two chimneys and two administration buildings. No remains of the railway could be found.

Ingenio Angelina, El Higo (10 km north of San Pedro de Macoris): (March 9th-10th)

Opened by Juan de Amechazurra in 1876, it was sold to Juan Bautista Vicini in 1880s and became part of the Vicini family’s C.A. de Inversiones Immobiliaras (CAEI) in 1917. In 1923, the railway network had 13.8 miles of main line track and 21.9 miles of branch lines, with one large two-span bridge. At that time it operated eleven steam locomotives, 141 10-ton and 150 5-ton cane cars. In 1921 128,231 tons of cane, in 1922 76,180 tons and in 1923 66,267 tons. Angelina’s network was linked to that of Vicini’s Cristobal Colón by a wagon suspension monorail (‘transbordador de vagones’) over the Rio Higuamo (a length of track with one of the monorail cars is preserved at Ingenio Cristobal Colón). Steam locomotives in use were mainly Baldwin 2-6-0s (incl. No. 7 32287 11/1907, No. 10 37304 10/1911, No. 11 42640 11/1915 and No. 12 44280 10/1916), but also included the D.R.’s only Mallet, 2-6-6-2 No. 9 (Baldwin 3308 1908), which is thought to have been scrapped sometime around 1960, when the steam locomotives were replaced by diesels from Plymouth.

By 1978, four diesel locomotives were in use (one 30-ton 230 h.p., one 18-ton 140 h.p. and two 12-ton 90 h.p.), together with 321 10-ton cane cars and five special cars.

Ingenio Angelina was closed in 1983 and its cane milled at Ingenio Cristobal Colón. In 1997 37 miles of railway track were still in use, but after 2007 the railway was closed and has been lifted. We found no trace of it. The mill is still used by a CAEI subsidiary as a garage for agricultural equipment and was declared “Patrimonio Histórico y Cultural de la Industria Azucarera Nacional” by FENACERD in 2008, so its future is reasonably secure.

Ingenio Consuelo, Consuelo (12 km north of SPM): (March 9th-10th)

This mill was opened in 1881/82 by the West Indies Sugar Corporation. In 1923 it had 43 miles of track in use, with ten steam locomotives (one 18-ton, five 12.5-ton, one 32.5-ton, two 32.5-ton and two 22.5-ton, all built by Baldwin, as well as one 25-ton Porter), 450 15-ton and 71 8-ton cane cars, four 20-ton and 99 6-ton flat cars, 15 6-ton water tank cars, 32 4-ton dump cars, three tool and wreck cars and one ash car, and carried 400,000 tons/year.

In 1954, the metre gauge railway network of Ingenio Las Pajas, opened in 1915/17 was taken over and converted to 762 mm gauge. In 1956, Ing. Consuelo was nationalized. In 1978, two 22.5-ton steam locomotives were still on the roster, together with five 45-ton diesels and 500 10-ton cane cars.

The mill, with a milling capacity of 4,600 tonnes/day, was leased to Consorcio del Caribe S.A. from 1999 to 2006, after which it was closed and partly dismantled in 2011. At the time of our visit, a some of the buildings which had escaped the 2011 demolition were being torn down. Here we found 4wPMR petrol motor car No. F-5, which we were told would be preserved.

At Las Pajas, no traces of the mill or of the railway could be found.

Baldwin 2-8-0 59376/1926 (ex Ing. Santa Fé No. 4) is plinthed in a fenced enclosure at the junction with Route 4.

Ingenio Quisqueya, Quisqueya (20 km NW of SPM): (March 10th)

This mill was opened by the West Indies Sugar Co. in 1885. By 1913 its railway network extended to 13 miles and by 1923 30 miles, including a 40-foot wooden bridge over the Rio Caganche. At that time it had ten steam locomotives (No. 1 8-ton 2-4-0, No. 2 14-ton 2-4-0, No. 3 10-ton 2-4-0, No. 4 12-ton 2-4-0, No. 5-6 15-ton 2-4-0s, No. 7-8 17-ton 2-4-0, No. 9-10 22-ton 2-6-0s) and 268 cane cars, and carried 185,000 tons (incl. 135,000 tons of sugar cane, 17,000 tons of sugar, 15,000 of firewood and 3,000 tons of various materials). The mill was nationalized in 1956.

Production of the 3,000 tonnes/day mill appears to have ended after the 1995/96 season. In 1999 it was leased to Consorcio del Caribe S.A., but has not reopened and all that is left of it is the chimney. The yard is used as a garage for agricultural equipment by a CAEI subsidiary. No traces of the former railway could be found during our visit.

Ingenio Boca Chica, Andrčs, Distrito Nacional (34 km east of S.D.): (March 2nd)

This mill was opened by the West Indies Sugar Co. in 1916 and once had a 76 mile railway network at its largest extent. By 1923, the network had already grown to 15 miles of main line and nine miles of branch lines, with another three miles under construction and five miles proposed. Five steam locomotives were in use, all 2-6-0s, as well as eight Gregg and 128 Koppel 10-ton cane cars, four Gregg tank cars, eight 6-7-ton sugar cars and six miscellaneous cars, and the railway carried 150,000 tons, including 95,000 tons of sugar cane. In 1956 the mill was nationalized.

In 1962 four Baldwin steam locomotives (two 25-ton and two 20-ton) were in use, and in 1968 steam was still in use as well. Steam locomotives known to have worked here, all Baldwin, include 2-4-0 No. 1 (42400 9/1916), 2-6-0 No. 2 (44456 7/1917) and 2-6-0 No. 3 (45935 7/1917). By 1978, the roster included seven Plymouth and GE diesel locomotives (one 15-ton, four 30-ton, one 35-ton and one 45-ton), as well as two railcars, 469 10-ton can cars and six 450 gal. tank cars.

In 1999 the mill, with a 3,600 tonnes/day capacity, was leased to Consorcio del Caribe S.A. By 01/2007 it had closed and has since been demolished. All that is left is the chimney and a Baldwin 2-4-0 steam locomotive plinthed inside a children’s playground (the boiler carries extra-order plate XO 400799/1945).

Ingenio Ozama, Distrito Nacional (19 km NE of S.D.): (March 2nd)

Opened sometime between 1881 and 1895 as Ingenio San Luis, this mill closed in 1930 due to hurricane damage. It reopened as Ingenio Ozama in 1939 and was owned by a Canadian family until nationalization in 1953. Its railway extended to 13 miles by 1913 and 39 miles by 1923, when extensions to Cojobal and Reventon were under construction and the network had ten bridges. At that time, eight steam locomotives were in use (one 7-ton, three 11-ton, one 22-ton, one 14-ton, one 34-ton and one 26-ton), together with 236 Gregg cane cars, six box cars, six sugar cars and 18 dump cars, carrying 128,000 tons, including 1000,000 tons of cane, 10,000 of sugar, 10,000 tons of firewood, 5,000 tons of coal and various materials and 3,000 tons of stone and sand.

Ultimately the network extended to 72 miles and in 1978 six GE and Plymouth diesel locomotives were in use (one 42.5-ton, one 40-ton, one 35-ton 130 h.p., two 30-ton and one 18-ton), together with 376 12-ton cane cars.

In 1999 the mill, with a capacity of 3,600 tonnes/day, was leased to Consorcio del Caribe, S.A. It had closed by January 2007 and except for the chimney and administrative block, which is now part of the Liceo Carlixta Estela Reyes, has been demolished, with no trace of the former railway.

Ingenio Rio Haina, Bajos de Haina (SW of S.D.): (March 2nd)

This mill on the southwestern outskirts of Santo Domingo was opened in January 1951 and had a maximum capacity of 12,500 tonnes/day. It was served by a large standard gauge network with a maximum extent of 170 miles. The main line extended north to Yamasá. In March 1998, 112 miles were in operation, with eight diesel locomotives and 240 cane cars. The 18 diesel locomotive fleet included 44, 45 and 70-ton and U6B models by GE and a single Porter center cab, mostly new to the D.R., but with some used from the U.S.

The mill was leased to Consorcio del Caribe, S.A. in 1999 and had ceased working by January 2007. The track has since been lifted and all locomotives and stock are said to have been scrapped. Even the bridge just outside the mill has been removed.

There are plans to use part of the right-of-way for the projected Santo Domingo – Santiago high-speed railway.

Ingenio Catarey, Villa Altagracia (42 km NW of S.D.): (March 2nd)

This mill was opened by Trujillo in his hometown in 1948. In 1954 the machinery from Ingenio Las Pajas was installed after Las Pajas was merged with Ingenio Consuelo. A 600 mm gauge railway with an extent of 19 miles and six diesel locomotives were used until around 1974. The mill itself closed in 1983 or 1986, but is still in place.

All we could find from the railway were some concrete bridge foundations beside the road just north of the mill.

Ingenio CAEI, Yaguate, Provincia San Cristobal (68 km west of S.D.): (March 2nd)

This mill, owned by the Vicini family, was opened as Ingenio Italia in 1893 and became part of C.A. de Explotaciones Industriales (CAEI) in 1927. Its railway had the uncommon gauge of 508 mm (20 in). In 1923 it had an extent of 34.1 miles, with an additional 2.4 mile under construction, and used eight steam locomotives and 400 cane cars. In 1970 the extent had reached 45 miles, with the main line to Eel Tablazo. In 1978, three Plymouth diesels (18-, 15- and 12-ton) were in use, together with 103 10-ton cane cars and 300 8-ton cane cars. By February 1994 only 3 miles of track towards Yaguate were still in use and the railway was found closed in August 1998 and out-of-use in January 2007. The mill itself, with a 2,000 tonnes/day capacity, closed after the 2006/07 season and has been used as a garage for agricultural equipment since, with all cane now trucked to Ingenio Cristobal Colón.

No remains of the railway could be found at the mill itself, but there are track remains at the old company wharf at Playa Palenque, a popular spot at weekends. For a vintage picture see the August 2012 CAEI bulletin, last page, link to http://www.caei.com/boletin/AZUCAR-15.pdf dead by October 2014 ).

Ingenio Amistad, Pérez (3 km south of Imbert and 29 km from Puerto Plata): (March 7th)

This mill was opened in 1898 or 1899 and a milling capacity of only 500 tonnes/day. It didn’t have its own field railway, but was connected to the 762 mm gauge FCD by a 4 or 5 mile long branch. In 1923, one 7-ton steam locomotive was in use here together with 20 4-ton cane cars. The branch was abandoned when the FCD closed in 1951 and the mill, then owned by Sra. M. Luisa Bentz vda. Julián, was nationalized in 1953. It was leased to Consorcio Agroindustrial Cańabrava (together with Ing. Monte Llano), but was closed when we visited. No traces of the railway could be found.

Ingenio Monte Llano, Villa Montellano (12 km SE of Puerto Plata): (March 7th)

This mill was opened in 1918. By 1923, its 762 mm gauge railway was 3 miles long, connecting with the 914 mm (3 foot) gauge Central San Carlos railway to the port of Bergantin (Pto. Plata), 8 miles away- At the time, three steam locomotives (one 7-ton and two 4-ton) were in use together with 100 5-ton cane cars. In 1952 the mill, which had been operated by Mr. Kilbourne until then, was nationalized. The railway was still in use in 1966, but had closed and been lifted by February 1994.

The mill, which has a crushing capacity of 2,200 tonnes/day, has been leased to Consorcio Agroindustrial Cańabrava, but was not operating at the time of our visit.

Two of the mill’s locomotives are plinthed in town nearby:

  • An 0-4-2T (H.K. Porter?) on the main plaza, just opposite the mill. We measured its gauge at 74 cm;

  • A Whitcomb 4wDM in a small park along Calle Principal just south of the mill. Its gauge has previously been reported as 30”, but we measured it at 69 cm.


Rob Dickinson

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