It is with much regret that we report the death in Buenos Aires on 10th June 2003 of Ing. Livio Dante Porta, the renowned Argentinean steam locomotive engineer. Born In 1922, he graduated as an engineer In 1946, became a great trend of André Chapelon, and was a keen proponent of steam locomotive development for some 60 years. In his native country he really arrived on the scene too late to have lasting impact on the main line railways, though he did have some success (see the article "Steam Locomotive Development In Argentina" in CRJ 15, pp 1½). On the 750mm gauge Rio Turbio line, however, he had a striking effect in improving the Japanese built 2-10-2s, and it is a great pity that his proposals for 2-10-10-2 and 2-12-12-0 Mallets for that line (see CRJ 31, p 154, and CRJ 34, pp 26½) never name to fruition. Elsewhere in the world he was Involved in the American Coal Enterprises ACE 3000 project for a modern coal-fired steam loco (alas also never a reality), helped provide inspiration to David Wardale for the "Red Devil", and most recently turned his attention to Cuba. The LVM 800 0-6-2T (CRJ 128. p 310) now seems unlikely to materialise, but at least there is Porta-modified Minaz 2-8-0 1816 to keep the flag flying. Much more information about Ing. Porta and his work can be found in David Wardale's book "The Red Devil and other Tales from the Age of Steam".
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Page created: 9 Sept 2003