FC de Amag_ / FC de Antioquia 2-8-2 Locomotives in Colombia

Class 35 (Locobase 15068)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University, Volume 66, pp. 91+. Works numbers were 52696-52697 in December 1919.

These two small Mikados were ordered as coal burners (most likely lignite) and the tenders were rated to hold four tons. But a note in the tender description suggests that the engines were fitted with oil burners by the Extra Work Department. The brick arch was held up by three arch tubes that contributed 13 sq ft (1.2 sq m) to the firebox heating surface area. 8" (203 mm) piston valves supplied steam to the cylinders.

The Antioquia was credited with rail weight was 45 lb/yard (22.5 kg/metre), uncompensated grades inclined as steeply as 4 1/2% and curves with radii of 200 feet (61 metres) or 29 degrees.

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Class 58 (Locobase 964)

Data from a table in 1947 Locomotive Cyclopedia. Works numbers. 70896-70899 in 1944 and 71587-71590 in 1945.

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Class Fredonia (Locobase 15067)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University, Vol 66, p. 86 and Vol 78, pp. 151+. See also Lufs Fernando Molina Londo'o, "Desarrollo de la ingenierfa antioque'a" archived at [] for the history of the Works numbers were 53253-53254 in May 1920 and 59266-59267 in May 1926.

The Province of Antioquia wanted a railway to run along the valley of the Aburrá, which begins at the headwaters of the Medellfn river to the town of Caldas. After several false starts, the Amagá was incorporated in 1907 with the 24 km (14.9 mi) segment between Medellfn and Caldas. Molina says that construction progress was slow, inhibited by a logistics train that required all of the material to be packed in by mules over tracks so narrow that not even carts could be used.

By 1914, the railway had been completed in turn to El Aguacatal, Envigado, Sabaneta, Itagnf, Tablaza and Caldas. He comments that the 13 km (8 mile) stretch between Caldas and Amagá was the most difficult portion because of the steep mountain grades and long, cold winters in both 1912 and 1913 that prompted landslides.

Several years later, the railwy bought these small Mikados, a design that was one of the smallest superheated 2-8-2s on the three-foot gauge. Its specs addressed the light rail (40 lb/yard or 20 kg/metre), sharp curves of 25 degrees (230 foot/70 metre radii), and fully compensated 3% grades. Its 8" (203 mm) piston valves handled the superheated steam.

For fans of the Marx Brothers, the Fredonia immediately summons the national anthem "All Hail Fredonia!", which came years later and does not refer to this town. The second locomotive was named for Venecia, another of the principal towns of the railway. Fuel was lignite, which while described as "low grade", was credited with 12,000 BTU/pound (26,455 BTU/kilogram). Two more arrived on the Amagá in mid-1926, not long before the FC de Amaga was taken into the FC de Antioquia. According to Gene Connelly's Baldwin list, the 10 ws named for Camilo Restrepo. The Antioquia renumbered the engine, giving it 50. It would eventually go on display at Puerto Berrio.