The Mysterious Tramway at
CENTRAL CARMEN
Cuba
BY Allen Morrison

Where was Central Carmen? Page 19 of the chapter "Plantation Railways of Cuba" in the March 1908 edition of The Cuba Review, published in New York, may provide clues. Both ingenio and central = sugar plantation:

After 1922 Jaruco was also the terminus of a branch of the electrified Hershey Cuban Railway. The Pedro Betancourt paragraph doesn't mention passenger cars or The Tramway of Pedro Betancourt, which was electrified about 1905. Both entries note two track gauges, which are evident in the photograph.

However, the clothing, haircuts and other aspects of the scene indicate that the photograph was taken before 1900 – in which case the 1908 survey might not apply. Cuba's sugar industry developed rapidly in the 19th century and the plantations expanded and reorganized – and often changed their names. The Cuba Review did not begin publication until 1903 and no other such listings could be found.

If you have comments, corrections or information on this subject, please write to Allen Morrison!
Leo y escribo español.



This page was uploaded on
28 February 2018

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