12 Chinese locomotives arrive in Cuba

[Judi Lynn]

12 Chinese locomotives arrive in Cuba

www.chinaview.cn 2006-01-10 09:15:29


HAVANA, Jan. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- A delivery of 12 new Chinese locomotives, which will be the most modern and fuel-efficient on Cuba's rail network, arrived at the port of Havana on Monday, Cuban daily Granma reported.

It was part of a Cuban government plan to improve the country's rail service.

The DF7G-C diesel-electric locomotives with 2,500 horse power were shipped in December 2005 from China, said Granma.

The shipment also contained 80 buses, part of a contract for 1,000 vehicles, 700 of which will start to provide long distance travel services in the first quarter of this year.
(snip/...)

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-01/10/content_4031857.htm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

DU'ers may remember Bermuda attempted to sell its old buses to Cuba, and was thwarted by _Bush's administration which couldn't resist the temptation to interfere:

U.S. watching Bermuda, Cuba relations
Wednesday, October 1, 2003
HAMILTON, Bermuda: The Bermudan government's decision to sign a cultural exchange program with Cuba has U.S. officials concerned, the Royal Gazette is reporting.

US Consul General Denis Coleman said recently, that the United States had not changed its position with regard to Cuba and that the Alex Scott administration's moves towards Cuba were "not constructive."

But he acknowledged that it wasn't really his business what the Bermuda Government decided to do."

Last week the Bermuda government announced that it had signed a cultural exchange agreement with Cuba. Government's agreement with Cuba promotes cultural and artistic exchanges.

Premier Scott, currently off the Island, indicated last week that plans to sell old buses and ferries to Cuba were no longer being floated.
(snip/)

http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/2003/10/01/bermuda.htm

[jeff30997]

1. Bush and China stinks equally.

[murray hill farm]

2. This is great news!

I love Cuba..todays Cuba! And this will make such a positive difference there.

[tatertop]

3. This is great.

[blueknight]

4. they are light years behind

on loco technology. i retired from csx railroad and the locos we have been getting for several years are 6000 horse power

[Bridget Burke]

5. Yes but they are part of Cuba's plan to improve rail service....

Not to neglect it, as certain other, richer countries do.

[tatertop]

11. Viva rail service!

[tatertop]

12. 6000 horsepower! That's one big powerful boy.

[XNASA]

13. Perhaps Cuba doesn't require a 6000 HP loco?

:shrug:

[Hardrada]

6. I liked those big old Chinese steam locomotives.

I wonder if they are still using some of them. We could use them here actually.

[sidpleasant]

9. There are still steam locomotives in China

However they're to be found on industrial railroads and small provincial lines only. China National Railway has retired all of its steam locomotives.

I was amazed to read recently that there is still some steam railroading in the former East Germany.

Chinese steam locomotives might be nice for tourist railroads but you wouldn't want them on mainlines. Diesels are inarguably more efficient and pollute less, particularly the newest models.

[Hardrada]

14. I meant in that they burn coal (which we have)

and not oil (which we are getting less of). But you have a point with the pollution bit. They would need some "scrubbers."

[hogwyld]

7. The sad part is

Because of shrub's continued boycott of Cuba, American companies such as GE missed out on a huge sale, and kept Americans working.

[Mika]

15. Bingo! The stupid US embargo on Cuba costs US jobs.

But, keep in mind, that it is not to appease a small group of Miamicubans who support the embargo.. its to continue the campaign funding flow for both parties (which is a mixed bag of both pro & con embargo within each party).

[underpants]

8. Man, they must have had some kinda of BIG running start

:bounce:

[AngryAmish]

10. Wasn't this a REM song?