Until recently this was the most popular sugar mill amongst steam enthusiasts. The system is situated in beautifull countryside with small mountains and palm trees. The mill is only 20km southwest from Cuba's 2nd popular tourist resorts concentrated around Playa Guardalavaca.
The gauge is 762mm. The network consists of a westerly and an easterly branch. The line to the west opend up rlatively flat countryside and may have connected the mill tot the standard gauge railway network. The eastern branch of the sugar mill's mnetwork opened up the cane fields and rural villages on the western slopes of the mountain range running from Guardalava inland.
The eastern branch has been used the whole year round four public passenger traffic whilst the western line only saw freight trains during the zafra. There also used to be a branch to the northeast, connecting the mill to the port of Puerto Vita. But it closed a long time ago.
Map of the Rafael Freyre system (based on situation 1978).
Rafael Freyre was famous for its nice steam locomotives. But also TU7s worked here. In 1987 one or two TU7s were noted. Later 34 049, 056, 058 and 061 have been observed working at Rafael Freyre. They were used for shunting at the mill as well as for line duties. Though steam was more used on the line than the diesels. By 2000 34049 had already been dumped and the other three TU7s remainded in use until 2002.
The sugar mill closed after the 2002-season. Fortunately the railway system remained in use; though be it only for th passenger services onf the eastern branch to LA Sierra, Jobal and Pedula. Remarkably, these villages also depend on the narrow gauge railway for their medical services. For this purpose an ambulance has been adapted to run on the narrow gauge tracks (like draisines on forestry railwys in Eastern Europe).
When visited by railway enthusiasts in 2003, the line was still in good condition although the railcar service for public transport had temporarily ceased owing to lack of serviceable railcars and diesel fuel. For tourism purposes they normally use only the line to Potrerillo.
TU7Es observed at Rafael Freyre in 2003:
In 2004 the mill was being dismantled. Steam engines 1388 and 1180 were workable and could be hired for charter trains (100 USD minimum incl. 10km, add. km +20 USD). Apart from the tourist steam trains, the public passenger trains on the eastern line ran again. For these services TU7 34058 with two tourist-style coaches and railcar 43 were used. The 2004-timetable for the TU7-service was as follows:
By March 2006 this timetable was stil valid. Though it seemed TU7 34058 was used alternately with diesel E2414. From 34049 only the frame of the cab ramained; the rest was cut. The remains of the other 2 TU7s (34056 and 354061) still stood inside the meanwhile half-demolished mill.
When I visited Rafael Freyre in March 2006, unfortunately the last remaining TU7 was not in service for several days due to repairs. It is seen here at the depot on 17th March 2006.
Photo J. Engelbert-Medendorp.
Instead of the TU7 the classic B'B' diesel locomotive E2414 hauled the 13:00 passenger train tot La Sierra. The "TU7-replacing" loco and its passenger train was photographed from the viaduct in the main road Holguin - Guadalavaca by J. Engelbert-Medendorp. In the background the chimneys of the sugar mill.
The remains of (the cab of) 34049, photographed on 21st March 2006.
The railcar is used on the line from Rafael Freyre to Jobal (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays) or to Pedula (Tuesdays and Thursdays). It leaves Rafael Freyre at 5:00 and 14:30. (On Thursday 17th March 2006 diesel locomotive E2414 i.e. not the railcar has spotted hauling the 14:30 train; on other days a railcar was used).
The line to the west still saw regular steam excursions in 2006. The yourney already ends after 7km at Bracito. Here the road form Fray Bonito to the peninsula of Cayo Bariay crosses the railway. At Bracito, tourists have to change to their tourbus again, which brings them to the spot where Columbus first set foot on Cuban ground in 1492. This tour package is sold under the name "Locomotur" by most tour operators and at all hotels in the Guardalavaca area. In March 2006 the steam locomotive worked on Thuesdays and Mondays. It departs from Rafeal Freyre around 9:30 and 10:30. The steam loco faces in westerly direction and hauls 1-2 coaches. From Bracito the train is pushed back, all the way to Rafael Freyre.
The mill is located near the town of Tacajo, between Banes and Urbano Noris. In 1995 engine 34057 was noted at the mill.
