“Men of Steam” Dedicated to my father

The photo-essay “Men of Steam” is a personal project that started in the garage of my house in Havana during one of the many attempts to keep my father’s old car running. We were taking out the engine, which worked almost well, because a friend had given us a spare part to make it run even better. But when we put everything back together, it didn’t work as we’d hoped, and the engine started smoking heavily. My father laughed and said, “This looks more like a steam locomotive than a car!” In that very instant, a spark of inspiration ignited in me and I promised him I would capture the souls of those mighty steam locomotives that, to my immense good fortune, still reigned as an integral part of Cuba’s transportation—especially in the sugar industry.

These old machines, most built in the late 19th century, survived out of necessity. The main reasons were the shortage of diesel fuel and the lack of parts for newer equipment. This problem got much worse during the Cuba’s 1990s great depression, called by the government “Special Period”, after the Soviet Union collapsed.

The average workday for a locomotive crew began at 4 a.m. and ended after 6 p.m. In addition to being dangerous due to the constant possibility of boiler explosions, the working conditions were exhausting. The crew had to constantly check every parameter and improvise repairs and solutions to keep the machines in service. The pay? A pitiful wage and the promise of earning a television or a washing machine as a prize if they exceeded the quota.

I only had permission to do this project for one week. During that time, I took dozens of photos and had fun learning the jobs of a Fireman and an Engineer… But the most valuable memory is the time I spent with those wonderful people, with their hands stained with oil and coal. This is, without a doubt, my favorite essay.

“Men of Steam” tells the story of these machines, which were carefully maintained and repaired by their operators. These men were incredibly creative and resourceful. Even with little formal education, they managed to keep these powerful animals alive every day. They told me that for every one “living” locomotive, there were two or three “dead” ones in the scrapyard. This “graveyard” was their version of a parts store, where they would scavenge for what they needed.