Railways of Spain PHOTOS

[ellocoloco]

Just north of Alfafar-Benetusser station is a road bridge over the line. This was actually much closer to my apartment so an afternoon trip was in order. I had enquired on Forotrenes if there was a Spanish equivalent of our train tracking websites but no luck so had to make do with what came along. Fortunately plenty of action including freight. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Geep7]

On 22/10/2023 at 13:18, ellocoloco said:

I had enquired on Forotrenes if there was a Spanish equivalent of our train tracking websites but no luck so had to make do with what came along. 

It's a shame I hadn't seen your post on Forotrenes. There is a site which shows real time tracking of trains on the RENFE network, showing the trains, similar to how flightradar24 does, on a map. The site is called Positren: https://positren.nebulacodex.com/

Hope this helps for when you're next over in Spain.

 

Also, thanks for sharing the photos. Not many RENFE livered locos about I see. Am I correct in thinking that I read over on Forotrenes that RENFE Mercancias is no more, and it's all now going to be private freight operators?

[ellocoloco]

4 hours ago, Geep7 said:

Not many RENFE livered locos about I see.

Your right, most of the freight was by the newer operators and I think 333.321 at Alfafar was on lease earlier this year to Continental Rail. I don't know if they still have it. It has the unbranded leasing livery. I have been trying to get my pictures sorted and have a few of RENFE 253s. Most of my shots were from the terrace roof and they are yet to come but are from further away.

 

This lot are lineside a couple of hundred meters from the bridge used previously. Its great having no fences and if you spot the cat, it wasn't bothered by the Civia blasting past! The Logitren 335/4000 was out most days but then they are based in Valencia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ellocoloco]

17 hours ago, Geep7 said:

The site is called Positren

 

The guys on Forotrenes pointed me to this one - https://www.forotrenes.com/foro/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=91076&p=815734#p815734 - but I never got it to work and from their descriptions it wasn't reliable or what I was after. At least in Spain it is easy to stand in the sun and await a surprise.

 

17 hours ago, Geep7 said:

Not many RENFE livered locos about I see.

 

Here are a pair on a steel train heading into Valencia. Vicky got this shot on her phone as we crossed the footbridge close to Alfafar Station. Another spot I could have spent a few hours.

 

[Neal Ball]

On 24/10/2023 at 08:46, ellocoloco said:

 

The guys on Forotrenes pointed me to this one - https://www.forotrenes.com/foro/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=91076&p=815734#p815734 - but I never got it to work and from their descriptions it wasn't reliable or what I was after. At least in Spain it is easy to stand in the sun and await a surprise.

 

 

Here are a pair on a steel train heading into Valencia. Vicky got this shot on her phone as we crossed the footbridge close to Alfafar Station. Another spot I could have spent a few hours.

 

What is it with the Spanish and graffiti? It’s everywhere and by and large seems accepted.

 

Even in the middle of no-where, you will see a structure “tagged”. 
 

I suppose it’s another form of litter - it’s a different way of doing things and I don’t suppose it will ever change.

[ellocoloco]

It does seem to be a problem and what surprises me is the cost. 'Decorating' one of those TRAXX can't be cheap and there is a decent amount of effort and time put into it along with a relative amount of skill as opposed to the scribbles on the front of  Logitren 335 which show no amount of ability. That said, there are reports of prosecutions and the RENFE passenger trains seem to be better than in the past but trains aside it is all over the place and a very sad aspect of a lovely country.

 

 

 

[ellocoloco]

My last selection, until my next holiday in Spain, as you all must be getting bored by now! As mentioned my apartment had a great view and it was like having a train set in the background all day long. The level crossing meant all trains announced their presence with a horn blast which on a still night sounded pretty loud. A great selection of trains through out the day and although the lighting and focus may be off in a few pictures, most of the time there was a glass of wine in my other hand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just to give an idea of how close we were. The last one is a shot of (I think) the last operating 592 3/5 from the balcony. This shows the bridge and trackside that the previous pictures were taken.

 

 

Over all a fantastic holiday.