McGomez

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

On 09/01/2023 at 22:14, Rob K said:

Hi there.

When I was in Spain in December, I’m pretty sure there was a news story that the Murcia line had finally started running its AVE service.

I am back there in a few weeks and will check

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.

16 minutes ago, Geep7 said:

 

I must have travelled through Poble Nou when I visited Barcelona the first time. By the second time though they had already built the Olympic Village, so we ended up in Barcelona Sants instead of Franca. There is a station on one of the metro lines (I forget which number, 5 maybe?) named Poble Sec which is in the Pobe Nou area I think. I've looked up Poble Sec, and it means Dry Village, I guess due to most of it being reclaimed form the sea, but I wonder if those that live there are much fun at parties . Great photos btw.

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.

On 17/01/2020 at 08:30, Neal Ball said:

Seems strange that the wires are still not yet complete. This photo was taken at Orihuela yesterday.

 

Beniel Being Between Orihuela and Murcia.

 

 

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.

3 hours ago, Neal Ball said:

We did another airport run yesterday...... A month after first seeing this vehicle parked on the line.... it’s still there!

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

Had a trip over to Alicante this afternoon and dropped past the materials base.

58024, 015, 043, 030 were at the western end whilst 58029 and 047 were at the eastern end.

Imagine trying to jot down this number as you were going past Toton on a railtour.... and the other 100+ locos that were usually present.........

My lottery numbers.... by McGomez441, on Flickr

A class 252 on a Cartagena-Barcelona Talgo run past 58047 and 029 .

Monforte 2 Inglesas y 1 Español by McGomez441, on Flickr

58024 at Km post 432,2.

Km 432,4 by McGomez441, on Flickr

Just cobbled together some Grid action on a rake of PGAs.

6 hours ago, Neal Ball said:

Is there an update to this? 

 

I know now we are talking about Spain and the usual “Manana” but it’s been 3 years since the Benidorm to Denia section closed.

 

We have recently moved out and think a trip into Alicante will be due soon!

No one seems to know for sure but there are test trains running as can be seen on this guys Flickr stream.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/lagunadani/

Hope that helps.

I´ve not been too active on the photography front lately. Here are a couple of photos from Friday afternoon.

The line from Murcia to Albacete closed to traffic after the last arrival on Friday 1st March to allow for the commisioning of the "Camarillas bypass" the cuts 16km off the journey and a saving of 20 minutes.

I managed to get a couple of shots of the penultimate northbound Altaria service just north of Cieza where the new line will join the existing route.

334.022 was doing the honours.

Desvio Camarillas 1 by McGomez441, on Flickr

Desvio Camarillas 2 by McGomez441, on Flickr

The line is due to enter service on the 19th of March.

Great film.

Thanks for bringing it to a wider audience.

Marshmoor (Welham Green) where I worked back in the 80s was particularly interesting. An impressive crossover from down slow to up slow.

I finally got around to editing a short video of the PGAs behind 45004.

My rake of PGAs arrived over Christmas and very nice they are too.

Here are a couple of images of 45004 hauling them through the station.

Cavalex Redland PGAs 02 by McGomez441, on Flickr

Cavalex Redland PGAs 01 by McGomez441, on Flickr

A bit of video was also done but I have just discovered that the You Tube editor that was so easy to use has been withdrawn so curently looking at other options.

Hi Pete.

Sorry to hear about the poor quality of the 3D printed posts.

Have a look for a brand called 87Train.

They do metal versions but from what I can find, they seem to be out of stock everywhere I looked.

Might have a trundle up there later this week.

Is access for pics ok?

 

Mike.

Hi Mike.

The northern side where the high speed line is situated is fully fenced off but has a tarmac road running alongside. Unfortunately the high speed lines are slightly higher than the yard but you can still see the locos, moreorless.

The Iberian gauge lines on the south facing side are unfenced and you can easily scramble up the bank to get a better view and walk the entire length of the yard on scrub land with good views of the whole yard.

I´ve never tried to get inside the compound as it is completely fenced off and there is security at the eastern end entrance.

I´ve only ever gone at weekends so couldn´t tell you if there is much movement during the working week.

With regards the other 58s in Spain, the Albacete 4 are still parked up in the same position as I went past the base twice mid-August. That leaves 2 unaccounted for.

Regards

Andy

As there has not been much action on the Railways of Spain group for a while now, here are some class 58 images taken on August 26th 2018 at the materials base near Monforte del Cid, Alicante.

58024 + 58015 stabled at the western end of the yard.
58024 + 58015 Monforte del Cid maintenance base. Alicante,  Spain. 26 August 2018. by Portland Grove, on Flickr

58024 + 58015 Monforte del Cid maintenance base. Alicante,  Spain. 26 August 2018 by Portland Grove, on Flickr

58024 + 58015 Monforte del Cid maintenance base. Alicante,  Spain. 26 August 2018. by Portland Grove, on Flickr

At the eastern end of the depot, 58031 and 58020 were parked up infront of the shed.
58031 + 580?? Sit outside the shed at the eastern end of Monforte del Cid maintenance base. Alicante,  Spain. 26 August 2018 by Portland Grove, on Flickr

58031 "Caballero Ferroviario"  Monforte del Cid maintenance base. Alicante,  Spain. 26 August 2018 by Portland Grove, on Flickr

With a high speed train just getting up to speed after leaving Alicante some 15 minutes previously.
58031 + 58020 + the high speed service to Santander/Gijón pass the Monforte del Cid maintenance base. Alicante,  Spain. 26 August 2018 by Portland Grove, on Flickr

The tail end of the train is seen passing 58047 and 58029 stabled in the centre of the yard.
58047 + 58029 + the high speed service to Santander/Gijón pass the Monforte del Cid maintenance base. Alicante,  Spain. 26 August 2018 by Portland Grove, on Flickr

58047 + 58029 at rest in the middle of Monforte del Cid maintenance base. Alicante,  Spain. 26 August 2018 by Portland Grove, on Flickr

And what looks like an ex freightliner container in the old red/yellow diagonal livery that I have only just spotted tonight whilst looking at the photos once again.
58031 + 58020. Plus grounded Ex Freightliner container.  Monforte del Cid materials base. Alicante. 26 Agosto 2018. by Portland Grove, on Flickr