McGomez

Not an uncommon occurance by the look of it....

The Murcia service started on the 19th December. 4 trains in each direction. 2 go via Alicante terminus and take 3h 25min which is moreorless what it takes to drive to Madrid from Murcia. 2h 50mim for the direct service. The Murcia -Madrid direct trains now terminate in Chamartin whilst the services via Alicante stop at Atocha befor terminating in Chamartin.

I lived/worked in Barcelona 92 to 94 so didn´t get to see the railway as per the photos which aren´t mine by the way but I now work for a company whose offices are bordering Poble Nou so know the area a bit. Back then I worked on the opposite side of the road (El Parallel) to Poble Sec which is to the south of the centre, moreorless on the hillside below where the Olympic diving events were held so not too sure of the meaning of the word Sec in this instance? I´ll ask my boss. Nice looking layout by the way. You´ve nailed the look of the station building.

Pueblo in Catalan is Poble as in Poble Nou, a district to the north of Barcelona. Once known as Pueblo Nuevo, it was where the Olympic village was built for the 1992 Games but before that it was home to some railway activity in the form of Talgo workshops and a station. So maybe Poble de Mar or Poblet de Mar? HTH.

I can see wires up. They are just not up on both tracks. Do both tracks have to have wires above them or could the high speed line be bi-directional? Maybe the nearside track is the existing line for the Iberian gauge services between Murcia and Alicante?

Trials at Orihuela.

Hi Neal. I passed by on Friday. That is actually the new Elche High Speed station although it is closer to Crevillente. The maintenance vehicle is parked on a short headshunt at the end of one of the platform loops. The wires are live and I´ve seen video of test trains running through to Beniel where the wires stop.

Its not the correct font but is that any help?

Nice looking layout Stephane. The buildings certainly position the layout in the Mediterráneo... I´m liking your era 5 locos in taxi livery. Looking forward to seeing your progress.

A couple of high speed services on the low speed section within the region of Murcia. This is what is called an Alvia. A series 730 with electric power cars powered by a gen set tucked in between coaches and power car. They go through the gauge changer at Albacete to get on to the high speed line to Madrid. From Albacete to Cartagena is all 1668mm Iberian gauge. Seen near la Venta del Olivo, just north of Cieza. Alvia Venta del Olivo. by McGomez441, on Flickr Passing through the station of Blanca/Abaran. Blanca Abaran Alvia by McGomez441, on Flickr

Hi Neal. The line to Orihuela is now live (as in 25kv live) and a high speed service starting and finishing at Orihuela is due to commence this year. Not sure when it is scheduled to commence. The section onwards to Murcia is complete to within a couple of km of Murcia Station where a couple of platforms for the high speed services were constructed but there has been a long running problem involving the level crossings situated just before the station throat that caused congestion on one of the arteries into the city and the locals have been campaigning for years for a solution. The problem was turned into a political issue and all hell broke out with constant protests including small home made bombs that were found on the tracks causing delays and cancellations. The government finally financed a cut and cover scheme to resolve problem and the works are ongoing. As far as I know, there have been zero works on the section towards Cartagena although I did read this week that there are plans afoot to make a link line at the existing junction of the Murcia - Alicante and Murcia - Cartagena lines. At he moment any train from Alicante to Cartagena has to reverse at Murcia. There are a couple of high speed trains in each direction that now run between Madrid and Cartagena via the Albacete-Hellin-Cieza non-electrified line using variable gauge hybrid units. Hope that helps to explain what's going on. Andy. Edit for spelling.

Is that any good? Chevrons.pdf

On a couple of my old Heljan 47s I´ve pulled the chemically blackened crud collector brass wheels off of their axles and replaced them with the 36-033 Bachmann OO gauge turned coach wheels. Cheaper than the Heljan replacements that come complete with the gears and axles. I´m still not sure if they are the correct diameter for either a 47 or class 26 but they cured the running characteristics.

I had a trip up to the north of Spain last summer on one of these. Chamartín Aves by McGomez441, on Flickr And whilst waiting at La Coruña around 8:30h for the train back south the sleeper arrived, hauled by 333.406. La Coruña tren hotel by McGomez441, on Flickr

An Alicante-Madrid AVE service passing Monforte materials base. Monforte AVE by McGomez441, on Flickr