Vintage track vehicles

Did Canadian Chevrolets get the 283 or were they stuck with surplus 265s?

 

FORT DIX NJ...AN ARMORED NARROW GAUGE WHITCOMB MADE FROM A REBUILT BALDWIN STEAM ENGINE.

 

'57 (Canadian) Chevy brochure I just browsed shows the same full engine lineup was available - even the fuel-injected 283.

 

OK there has to be a story behind these three locomotives.
I tried to make out the info on the plaque in the foreground but it's hard to read and it appears it may be in spanish. The words on the coal tender looks like it says IFrain Alforn.
They are absolutely beautiful. I wonder if they are still around.

 

Well how about that.

The google machine came up with the answers. It's Ifrain Alfonso! And it's in Cuba.

https://www.david-longman.com/Cuba_Villa_Clara.html

"This mill, originally known as Santa Maria, was renamed in memory of Ifrain Alfonso (1926-1958) also
known as ‘Cheche’, who coordinated the propaganda front of 26th July Movement in the Santa Clara
province. Originally imprisoned for trying to encourage workers to strike in protest against the coup
of General Batista in 1952, he continuously worked to further the revolutionary cause. Following
several periods in prison he returned to the revolutionary fold and was responsible for organising
numerous acts of sabotage in support of the cause. In March 1958 he was captured and tortured by
government forces but failed to give any information He was hospitalised, to recover prior to further
torture, but then went missing and his body was never discovered.

This mill was always a personal favourite as it not only featured a flat crossing over the Great Cuban
Freeway and shared running on the FCC but also housed Alco 2-8-2 No.1910, the largest loco at work
on any of the sugar mill systems and one which I drove on two occasions."

So Cuban locos. And as per Cuban tradition they were working up until at least the late 90's.

Engine # 1910 running in 1998!


I have definitely gone down the rabbit hole on this...
Thanks wylee