Orinoco Mining |
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Jim Claflin photo / Norm Herbert collection | ||||
In 1947, one of the largest iron ore mother-lodes in North or South America was discovered in the Orinoco region of Venezuela, and U.S. industrial giants wasted no time capitalizing on the huge iron ore deposit. One of those companies was U.S. Steel; its Orinoco Mining subsidiary built a 90-mile railroad, established a company-town and developed deep-water port facilities, all within five short years. Motive-power wise, a descending 3.1 % ruling grade between the iron ore mines at Cerro Bolivar and the port facilities dictated a fleet of six-axle locomotives. The company's initial order for diesel power went to Baldwin Locomotive Works; it was placed in 1951 and called for AS-616s. The first four units(#1001-1004) arrived during the last half of 1952; they were followed by a second group of 1600-hp Baldwin road-switchers (#1005-1009) during 1953. With the delivery in 1956 of four 1750-hp SD9s (#1011-1014) from the EMD plant, the railroad shifted its allegiance long term to the LaGrange Illinois builder. In terms of new diesel power acquisition, it was not until 2005 that locomotives bearing anything other an EMD builderplate polished Orinoco Mining rails. The exception was a pair of GE-built AC4400CWs (#1057 & 1058) which were purchased that year. All subsequent orders went to EMD. The Venezuelan Government in 1975 merged the rail operations of Orinoco Mining and Bethlehem's Iron Mining Company of Venezuela into the state-owned Ferrominera Orinoco railroad. A roster of has been provided at the end of this profile. |
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Baldwin-Built Locomotives | ||||
 AS-616m -- An aging Orinoco #1001 was rebuilt by the railroad (prior to nationalization) with a 1750-hp EMD power plant which dictated modifications to the long hood and addition of a new d/b blister and radiator section. (Jim Claflin photo, 8 January 1979 / Deane Motis collection) |  AS-616 -- Orinoco #1009 was the last unit from the original Baldwin order. However, sister #1008 was wrecked soon after delivery and was rebuilt as the #1010. It also received a new serial number. (Jim Claflin photo at Puerto Ordaz on 5 January 1979 / courtesy of the Baldwin Zone) | |||
 AS-616 -- Sporting a fresh coat of paint and the insignia of the newly nationalized Ferrominera Orinoco railroad, 27-year-old Baldwin #1002 was photographed at Puerto Ordaz on 9 January 1979. (Jim Claflin photo / Deane Motis collection) |  DRS44-1500 -- Built with a raised cab, Ferrominera Orinoco #2003 was originally owned by the Iron Mines Company of Venezuela (a Behkehem Steel subsidiary) and wore #3. (Jim Claflin photo at San Felix on 4 January 1979 / Deane Moties collection) | |||
EMD-Built Locomotives | ||||
 SD9 -- This 9 January 1979 image suggests that the railroad modified the 1750-hp #1016 to include post-1970 paper oil filters; note the boxy metal enclosure that extends above the hood-line, behind the air intake. (Jim Claflin photo) |  SD9m -- Built in May 1958, Orinoco #1020 was the last of twenty standard configured SD9s that had been delivered to the railroad since 1956. There is no record of when it received a spartan cab. (Jim Claflin photo 10 January 1979) | |||
 SD38 -- The only new road power ordered by Orinoco in the 1960s were three 2000-hp SD38s (#1021-1023) which were shipped during 1967. The new units were configured with a a standard low-nose. (Jim Claflin photo at Puerto Ordaz on 8 January 1979) |  SD38 -- The Venezuela mining company began the 1970s with the purchase of four additional 2000-hp, six-axle road units (#1024-1027). A paper oil filter enclosure was the newcomer's only distinguishing feature. (Jim Claflin photo 5 January 1979) | |||
 SD38-2 -- In 1992, Ferrominera Orinoco ordered eight additional 2000-hp road units from EMD; the six-axle freighters were delivered in 1994 as #1041-1048. (Doug Courtney photo 12 June 1994 / Deane Motis collection) |  SD38-2TC -- The railroad's final order (#1049-1051) for 2000-hp units arrived during 1997. It has been reported that Norfolk & Western SD35s #1554, 1557 and 1559 served as the cores. Photo was taken at New Orleans during January 1997. (Bill Lang photo / Mike Palmieri collection) | |||
 SD70ACe -- Three SD70ACes (#1060-1062) left EMD in spring of 2005; they were consigned to FerroMinera Orinoco. An additional four units (#1063-1060) followed in 2006. This photo was taken while units wait for shipment from Halifax, Nova Scotia during May 2005. (Geoff Doane photo) |  SW900 -- The mining road operated seven ex-Iron Mines Company of Venezuela SW900s. The #1090-1092 arrived in 1957, with the remaining four (#1093-1096) entering service in 1960. Note that the yard switchers were equipment with dynamic braking located in front of the cab along the hood line. (Jim Claflin photo at Ciudad Piar on 11 January 1979 / Larry Russell collection) |  SD70ML -- In June 2025, Ferrominera Orinoco introduced six new locomotives built by Progress Rail; the 4000-hp units are SD70MLs. A company press release from March 2026 states that the railroad owns a fleet of 38 locomotives -- no reference to how many are on the active roster. (Ferrominera Orinoco website photo) | Lastly, there is a photograph of Ferrominera Orinoco #1075 and 1076 on Instagram which appear to be standard SD70Ms, but no further information is available. | |
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New: 1 September 2026 |
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