1932 Central American Railways

Note: This is a sub-section of 1932 Railway Year Book

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CENTRAL AMERICAN RAILWAYS
British interests in the various Central American States are considerable. British Honduras, Jamaica, and Trinidad, etc., are Crown Colonies ; but in other countries the situation Is analogous to that In the South American States, that British enterprise has taken a considerable share in building up the railway systems, and many are owned and operated by British companies, or leased from the respective States or local owning companies. There is, however, an important American element. As a rule, concessions have been granted and the respective States have some interest. In Cuba about 54 per cent, of the railway mileage is owned by British companies. In Mexico also considerable interests are held, though the United States is also largely concerned ; but many lines have been acquired by the Mexican Government, and the present situation is still complicated by internal conditions. In Costa Rica, Porto Rico, and Panama, American interests predominate, while in San Domingo, Salvador, and Nicaragua, British interests are concerned, together with American and local enterprise.

I.—RAILWAYS IN CROWN COLONIES, PROTECTORATES, ETC
For ** Crown Agents for the Colonies,*’ see page 52.

BERMUDA RAILWAY.
Headquarters : Hamilton.
Chief Officers : General and Traffic Manager, F. R. Stemp ; Loco. Supt. and Chief Mechanical Engineer, H. J. Kitchen ; Purchasing Agent, A. J. Blee ; Chief Operating Inspector, J. Younger.
General Particulars : Mileage, 12 (4 ft. 8| in. gauge). No. of locos, 8 ; coaching vehicles, 6 ; wagons, 2.

BRITISH WEST INDIES: BARBADOS GOVERNMENT RAILWAY.
Headquarters: Bridgetown.
Chief Officers : General Manager, P. P. Higgins; Traffic Manager, A. B. Clinekett; Line Supt., D. Stokes: Accountant and Storekeeper. C. A. Farmer; Locomotive Foreman, W. Sayers.
General Particulars: Mileage, 21 (2ft. 6 in. gauge); No.of locos., 5; coaching vehicles, 10; goods vehicles, 129 ; brake vans, 2.

BRITISH WEST INDIES: STANN CREEK RAILWAY.
Headquarters : Stann Creek.
Chief Officers: Supt. and Road Master, G. W. E. Francis ; Station Clerk, C. J. Meza; Machine Shop Foreman, M. Sainsbury.
Statistics : Mileage (3 ft. gauge), 25. Rolling liock, 4 steam locos., 2 gasoline locos., 1 carriage, 1 brake van, 65 wagons.
General Particulars : Opened throughout 1910 to connect Stann Creek with the Interior

DEMERABA RAILWAY.
(Taken over by Government of British Guiana 31 December, 1921.)
General Particulars: Incorporated 1846 for a railway from Georgetown to Mahaica. West Coast line opened 3 July, 1900; Berbice line, Aug., 1900. Mileage, 60J (4 ft. 8| in. gauge), 18^ (8 ft. 6 in. gauge); number of locos., 15 ; coaching vehicles, 39 ; goods vehicles, 283.

JAMAICA GOVERNMENT RAILWAYS.
Headquarters: Kingston.
Chief Officers : Director, H. C. Powell, M.Inst.T. ; Loco. Supt., P. M. Mackay, A.M.I.Mech.E. ; Traffic Supt., W. G. Gigg ; Chief Engineer,^ H. R. Fox ; Accountant, G. C. Gunter.
General Particulars: Kingston to Spanish Town constructed 1844 by a private company, later taken over by the Government. An extension to Porus was opened in 1885, together with branch line from Spanish Town to Ewarton. An American syndicate purchased the existing railways in 1889 and extended from Porus to Montego Bay and Bog Walk to Port Antonio, but the Government again took possession in 1900. A branch to Chapleton was completed in 1913, a branch to New Works in 1921, and an extension to Frankfleld was opened in March, 1925.
Statistics.—Mileage U ft. 8Jin. gauge), 210. No. of locos., 38; coaching vehicles, 33; goods vehicles, 608.

TRINADAD GOVERNMENT RAILWAYS General Particulars: A Government system of railways extending from Port of Spain to Sangre Grande, Rio Claro, San Fernando to Princestown and Siparia. First section from Port of Spain to Arima, 15| m., was opened 31 Aug., 1876. Couva was reached 1 March, 1880, and San Fernando reached 1882. Railway steamers serve the south-western coast between San Fernando serving the asphalt lake at La Brea, also the islands to the north-west of Trinidad.
Statistics: Mileage (4ft. 8Hn. gauge), 150. No. of locos., 33; coaching vehicles, vehicles. 855 ; 1 steam rail-car. '

II. —COSTA RICA.

COSTA RICA RAILWAY.
(Leased to the Northern Railway of Costa Rica.)
Offices in London: 69, Old Broad Street, E.C. 2.
Directors: Chairman, Rt. Hon. Viscount St. Davids P.O.; Vice-Chairman, H. C. Drayton; A. J. Shepherd.
Secretary : F. J Oliver.
General Particulars.—Leased to Northern Ry. of Costa Rica, from 1 July, 1905. (3 ft. 6 in. gauge), 188. No. of locos., 23; coaching vehicles, 35; wagons, 469.

NORTHERN.
Boston, U.S.A. Offices : 1, Federal Street.
London Agent : A. J. Shepherd, 69, Old Broad Street, E.C. 2.
General Manager : M. M. Marsh, Limon.
General Particulars.—138 m. (3 ft. 6 in.). 17 locos. ; 22 carriages ; 338 wagons.
Costa Rica Ry.

III. —GUATEMALA.
Ferrocarril Nacional de los Altos.—State electric railway, 28 m. (4 ft. 8J in.), running from San Felipe to Quezaltenango ; 6 carriages ; 8 goods wagons ; 1 inspection car.
International Railways of Central America.—656 m. (3 ft.). Head Offices, 17, Battery Place, New York City. General Manager, R. M. Aylwana, Guatemala City.

lV.—PORTO RICO.
American Railroad Company of Porto Rico.—300 m. (metre); 57 locos. ; 1,913 wagons ; 5 autocars. New York Offices, 57, William Street. General Manager, E. S. Jimenez, San Juan.

V. —CUBA.
UNITED RAILWAYS OF THE HAVANA AND REOLA WAREHOUSES, LTD.
{Incorporating the Cuban Central Railway and the Western Railway of Havana as from 1 July, 1920, and The Havana Central Railroad from 1 March, 1928.)
Offices in London: Dashwood House, 69, Old Broad Street, E.C. 2.
Directors: Chairman, Rt. Hon. Lord Ashfield ; Deputy-Chairman and Managing Director, A. G. Sunt;H. Carlisle; Hon. A. 0. Crichton ; N. B. Dickson, O.B.E., M.Inst.C.E.; W. Howard- Williams. C.B.E.; W. E. Ogilvie; John L. Simpson.
Secretary: W. J. Maslen.
Consulting Engineers: Livesey, Son and Henderson. Headquarters in Cuba: Estaclon Central, Havana.
Chief Officers : General Manager, Lightly S. Simpson ; Chief Engineer, J. W. Stickney ; Chief Mechanical Engineer, H. R. Riley, Cienaga ; Traffic Manager, G. J. Humbert; Stores Supt., H. L. Ashley.
General Particulars: Company registered 1898 to take over the railways, warehouses, etc., from the Bank of Commerce, United Rys. of the Havana and Regia Warehouses Co. Includes the first railway in Cuba, opened 28 July, 1837, Havana to Bejucal, subsequently extended to Guines, 32 m.; the Compania de Caminhas de Hierro de la Habana (1842), Ferro Carril de Alfonso XII. (1886), Cardenas and Jucaro Ry., Cardenas Ry. (1839), Jucaro Ry. (1841), Cardenas to Pizarro Ry. (1859), and Matanzas Ry. (1841), together with other lines previously belonging to the Bank of Commerce and associated warehouse and railway enterprises, several sections dating back to the ’forties and ’fifties, besides those mentioned. The Company operates the Marianao and Havana Ry. (1858) under a working agreement with that Company.
The Western Ry. of Havana division was partially built by a Cuban company formed in 1857, but the original scheme was not completed until 1894. The line now extends from Havana to Guane. The Cuban Central division combines the Cienfuegos, Sagua and Caibarien Rys., all constructed prioi to 1850, together with lines built since amalgamation in 1899.
The Havana Central Railroad system was built by an American Company incorporated in 1905. It consists of 68 miles of electrified line running from Havana to Guanajay and Havana to Guines.
Statistics (Railway Working) : Year ending 30 June, 1931.—Capital issued, £23,317,785 ; Gross Receipts, £1,943,199 ; Working Expenditure, £1,895,323 ; Net receipts, £47,875 ; No. of passengers : Steam trains, 2,108,807; electric service, 4,056,876; ferry boats, 701,156. Tonnage: goods and mineral traffic, 8,002,783; live stock, 47,852. Steam locos., 354; electric locos., 9; passenger coaches, 205; electric motor cars, 83; petrol and gas-electric motor coaches, 18 ; other coaching vehicles, 82; goods vehicles, 10,010; service vehicles, 396. Mileage, 1,369 (4 ft. 8| in. gauge) ; train mileage, steam, 4,283,057; electric, 1,888,990.

PRINCIPAL REMAINING RAILWAYS.
Cuba {formerly Consolidated Railroads of Cuba}. Secretary, W. H. Baker, Grand Central Terminal, New York. General Manager, M. Cibran, Camaguey. 945 m. (4 ft. in.); 157 locos.; 8 motor cars; 5,062 cars.
Cuba Northern.—360 m. (4 ft. 8| in.); 45 locos. ; 1,975 cars. Secretary, P. F. Diago, Havana. General Manager, M. Cibran, Camaguey.
Guantanamo and Western.—176 km. (4 ft. 8i in.); 19 locos.; 17 carriages; 584 wagons. General Manager, C. F. Myers, Guantanamo.

VI. —MEXICO.
EL ORO MINING AND RAILWAY.
Offices in London: 24, Lombard Street. E C. 3.
Directors : Chairman, J. H. M. Shaw; R. H. Jeffrey; A. Naylor. Secretary ; H. F. Wreford.
General Manager : G. M. Wasteneys, El Oro.
Statistics : Mileage (3 ft. gauge), 46. No. of locos., 8 ; coaching vehicles, 12 ; goods vehicles, 100.

MEXICAN RAILWAY.
Offices in London: 1, Broad Street Place, E.O. 2.
Directors: Chairman, V. W. Yorke; J. B. Body; J. A. Gibbs; A. de Escandon; H. Goschen;
J. D. W. Holmes, Alberto Mascarenas, C. J. Cater Scott; G. J. Yorke.
Secretary: C. Tennant.
Headquarters in Mexico: Buena Vista Station, Mexico City.
Chief Officers: General Manager, J. D. W. Holmes ; Chief Engineer, A. M. Willats ; Supt. Motive Power, G. H. Chadwick, Orizaba; Storekeeper, J. E. Rabago.
General Particulars: Opened Mexico to Puebla 1869, and to Vera Cruz 1873. Branch to Pachuca opened 1890. Branch from Munoz to Zacatlan, the Huatusco line, acquired 1908, and the San Marcos and Huajuapan line, purchased 1913. In Nov., 1914, and again in 1917, after return in Sept., 1916, the line was taken possession of by the Mexican Government, bub returned a second time on 19 June, 1920.
Statistics: Capital, £9,221,402. Mileage; 4 ft. 8 J in. gauge, 375; 3 ft. gauge. 56; 2 ft, 6 in. gauge, 33 ; 2 ft. gauge, 21. Rolling Stock : 4 ft. 8| in. gauge, 78 locos., 90 coaching vehicles, 1,045 goods vehicles ; other gauges, 12 locos., 18 coaching vehicles, 157 goods vehicles.
VERA CRUZ (MEXICO) RAILWAY.
Offices in London: 47, Parliament Street, S W. 1.
Directors : Chairman, Sir C. G. Hyde; J. H. Macdonald; Viscount Cowdray; J. B. Body; F. Adams.
Secretary: F. B. Cowperthwaite.
Traffic Manager: V. M. Cartaya, Vera Cruz.
General Particulars; Incorporated 1900 to acquire railways, steamers, etc. Capital Issued, £625.000, of which £125,000 has been surrendered, leaving £250,000 Preferred and £250,000 Ordinary Stock. Mileage (3 ft. gauge), 45.

MICHOACAN AND PACIFIC RAILWAY.
(Leased to the National Railways of Mexico.)
Offices in London: 17, Ironmonger Lane, E.C. 2.
Directors ; G. A. Mitchell; B. E. Holloway ; G. A. Mitchell, Junr. ; W. J. H. Moll; Major C. H. Potter, O.B.E.
Secretary : H. E. Simpson, A.C.I.S.
Agent: J. M. Pirscher, Ocampo, Mich., Mexico.
General Particulars.—Mileage (3 ft. gauge), 571. Arrangements were made in Mexico by which the Company was enabled pay off all the Prior Lien Debentures and 50 percent, of the 6 per cent. Second Debentures, the balance of which were renewed from 1 July, 1930, for 10 years to 1 July, 1940, and made repayable at a premium of £50 per £100 Debenture in consideration of the cancellation of the 27 years’ arrears of interest to 1 July, 1930.

PRINCIPAL REMAINING RAILWAYS.
Cachuila and Zacatecas.—103 m. (3 ft.). Owned by Mazapil Copper Co., Ltd., 47, Peter Street, Manchester
Jalapa and Teocdo.—68 m. (3 ft.), 10 m. (2 ft.).
Kansas City, Mexico and Orient.—227 m. (4 ft. 8| in.). See U.S.A. Section. Mexican Northern.—89 m. (4 ft. 8i in.).
Mexico North Western.—495 m. (4 ft. 8i in.).
National of Mexico.—(Operates Oaxaca and Ejutla, and Vera Cruz Railways.) Headguarters. Mexico City. London Agents, E. H. Mundy & Co., Ltd., Port of London Building.
Southern Pacific of Mexico.—1,267 m. (4 ft. 8i in.). See U.S.A. Section.
United of Yucatan.—274 km. (3 ft.).
There are also many smaller systems.

VII—NICARAGUA.
Pacific.—146 m. (3 ft. 6 in.). 17 locos.; 182 cars. General Manager, A. Cardenas, Managua.

VIII.—PANAMA
Chiriqui National.—57 m. (3 ft.).
Panama.—160 m. (5 ft.). 30 locos.; 43 carriages ; 1,188 wagons. General Offices, 24, State Street, New York, U.S. Headquarters, Balboa Heights, Canal Zone.

IX.—SALVADOR
SALVADOR RAILWAY
Offices in London : Dashwood House, 69, Old Broad Street, E.C. 2.
Directors : Chairman, J, A. Goudge, C.B.E.; P. R. Chalmers ; B. E. Holloway ; G. T. Moody.
Managing Director and Secretary : F. C. Tillbrook, F.C.I.S.
General Manager : Harry Williamson, San Salvador.
Statistics: Mileage (3 ft. gauge), 100. No. of locos., 13 ; coaching vehicles, 26 ; goods vehicles, 199; petrol coaches, 6 ; steam passenger autocar, 1.
There are also 157 miles in Salvador worked by the International Railways of Central America.

X. —SANTO DOMINGO
SAMANA-SANTIAGO RAILWAY.
Offices in Glasgow: 182, Bath Street.
Directors : Chairman, W. Whitelaw; W. J. Baird ; A. R. Chalmer.
Secretary: Major K. Sandland.
Headquarters in Santo Domingo: Sanchez.
Chief Officer : General Manager, Major S. H. Court.
Statistics : Mileage (3 ft. 6 in. gauge), 87. No. of locos., 10; coaching vehicles, 11 ; goods vehicles, 124; shipping plant, 26.
There are also the Dominion Government lines, 100 km. (2 ft. 6 in.), and the Macoris Railway, 7 m. (3 ft. 6 in. gauge), the Macoris Railway being operated by the Samana & Santiago Rly. Co., Ltd.

XI—MISCELLANEOUS RAILWAYS.
DUTCH GUIANA (SURINAM).
Paramaribo.—173 km. (metre); 11 locos.; 20 carriages ; 50 wagons ; 2 motor ca

HAITI.
National Railways.—200 km. (2 ft. 6 in.). Headquarters, Port-au-Prince.
Plain of the Cul-de-Sac.—64 m. (2 ft. 6 in.). Headquarters, Port-au-Prince.

HAWAII (U.S.A.).
Hawaii Consolidated.—91 m. (4 ft. 8i in.); 10 locos.; 17 carriages ; 161 wagons. General Manager, R. W. Filler, Honolulu.
Oahu Railway and Land.—114 m. (3 ft.); 30 locos ; 63 carriages ; 1,046 wagons. General Manager, G. P. Denison, Honolulu.

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