Colombia still has an estimated 90 steam locomotives, these include the largest class of regular narrow gauge (3') ever built.
Many are 'new,' meaning they were built long after diesels had taken the throne, IE: 1940's - 1950's. Almost all of them are from the American Locomotive Works or Baldwin, both one-time giant builders in the USA. As a new national highway system came into being in the 1990's the days were numbered for the entire 1,200 mile railway system. Finally the system shutdown in the early 1990's-2000. The line south From Medellin (Population around 3 million and a huge manufacturing center) south to Cali and the pacific coast container ports was wiped out in massive floods. The mainline from the Medellin junction on the Bogata - Atlantic line, IE: Puerto Berrio-Bogota had a similar fate. Finally the river ate several small sections of track over the rugged Medellin - Puerto Berrio line, we could no longer run past Giradota. When they brought in a bunch of us to rebuild and reopen the system... A LONG PROCESS, we found almost every city in the country had grabbed a steam locomotive or two and kept them in pristine shape.
Come along for a short ride on my favorite 2-8-2 MIKADO. 2-8-2 means there are 2 small guiding wheels up front known as the 'pony truck', followed by 8 much larger driving wheels which actually do the work, followed by 2 supporting wheels under the cab known as the 'trailing truck.' The nickname MIKADO came along as this class of engines (many full size in the USA as well) were designed for the heavy pulling in the mountains of Japan. The original batch was ready to roll when Pearl Harbor ended the possibility. Always with a funny sarcastic sense of humor they instantly became 'MIKADOS.'
http://www.youtube.com/v/gxF9ycdZAKk?version=3&hl=en_US
We have a blast with this thing every time I'm there, it's the biggest train set I ever 'owned!'
'97 with steam locos...crazy! I'm glad I read the description because I couldn't see the wheel arrangement! Didn't the U.S government come in and set standard Steam Loco wheel arrangement!
Those guys were pushing that roundtable manually!
During WWI the US government took control of our entire railroad system, probably as a follow on to Civil War policies. None of the US decisions effected other countries as many built their own engines to their own specifications. Some of our nicknames were picked up by railroad companies in other countries. Control of the railroads, in spite of several glowing story's influenced by the government was generally considered a disaster in the business. The US government actually wrecked several carriers through neglect to the point where they were abandoned (Colorado Midland, for example).
As for wheel arrangements the United States Railroad Administration under Director General McAdoo (who largely financed WWI) had standards for various steam locomotive types, these engines are known as USRA engines. After WWI it was entirely possible, likely in fact, that a railroad company would have both USRA and custom specification power on the roster. The nicknames came from the railroaders themselves.
Although the USRA period lasted only three years, locomotives continued to be built around these basic designs for another decade. Jacksonville's ACL 1504, built by American Locomotive Co. Richmond Works, is a "light pacific," the most common USRA passenger design, displayed at the JACKSONVILLE TERMINAL.
That roundtable is not as primitive as you think and pretty fun in fact. In our country there were hundreds of them on light branchlines, and almost all of our narrow gauge operations. The manual turntables are known as 'Armstrongs' for pretty obvious reasons. When a steam locomotive reached the end of the line, the four crew members would climb down and swing her around. Here are a few USA/EEUU examples:
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa111/Ocklawaha/RAILROAD%20Images/ScreenShot2013-09-22at85226PM_zps5ecd5fb0.png)
Laws (Bishop) California, 'SLIM PRINCES' nee SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD (narrow gauge) nee Carson and Colorado RR
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa111/Ocklawaha/RAILROAD%20Images/ScreenShot2013-09-22at85446PM_zps69933458.png)
Sacramento Valley Railroad, California
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa111/Ocklawaha/RAILROAD%20Images/ScreenShot2013-09-22at85316PM_zps90423dc3.png)
Folsom, California
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa111/Ocklawaha/RAILROAD%20Images/ScreenShot2013-09-22at91753PM_zps64b61562.png)
Simpson Railroad, putting her to bed after a run to Mill 5, Date: Oct 14th, 2011 Shelton, WA.
Bet y'all thought Colombia was 'behind' the times!