#39 is narrow gauge (36”) Mogul type (2-6-0) locomotive built in 1914 by H. K. Porter in Pittsburgh, PA, for International Railways of Central America’s subsidiary the Compania de Agricola de Guatemala, recently taken over by the US-owned United Fruit Company. The engine weighs 45,500 lbs, 39,000 lbs on its 35” drivers. An oil burner with 12” x 16” cylinders, it operated at a boiler pressure of 170 psi delivering 9,250 lbs tractive effort.
Trackage rights were granted CAG to operate its banana trains over International Railways of Central America lines and #39 was probably transferred to the line at this time. IRCA also undertook to operate CAG's trains and maintain its locomotives and rolling stock with CAG reimbursing IRCA for the costs.
In 1955, the US Supreme Court, in a lawsuit filed by minority IRCA shareholders, declared the arrangements illegal and forced the fruit company to sell its shares in the railroad and compensate the shareholders. In 1965, United sold its Guatemalan interests to Del Monte. That year, #39 was sold to the South Park Historical Foundation, brought back to the US and restored as Denver, South Park & Pacific #22 for display at the South Park City Museum in Fairplay, CO.
