Railways of Spain PHOTOS

[bensanchez43310]

Excellent thread and thanks to all the contributors.

 

Does anyone have anything from Green Spain (the north coast)? I've spent a couple of short holidays with friends in the Oviedo area and noticed considerable rail interest in assorted gauges but didn't  have the opportunity to investigate properly, which I now regret.

 

On a recent trip, I went and noticed a lot of both FEVE and conventional tracks, not to sure where they go. I know more about A Coruna and that side of Galicia

[EddieB]

The province of Asturias and Basque country around Bilbao were heavily industrialised and developed a network of industrial systems and private/secondary railways, including an extensive metre-gauge network.  Most of the surviving metre-gauge lines were absorbed into FEVE (Ferrocarriles de Vía Estrecha, i.e. "narrow gauge railways"), which has now itself become a division of RENFE.  Oviedo is an important hub on both the metre and Spanish gauge systems.

 

This article might be a good place to start: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renfe_Feve#FEVE_network

[EddieB]

I haven't visited that part of Spain since FEVE was absorbed into RENFE.  However I see that there are still two luxury train services operated over the metre gauge route between San Sebastian and Santiago de Compostela - an eight day/seven night indulgence for those with very deep pockets!  

https://www.luxurytrainclub.com/trains/el-transcantabrico-gran-lujo/

 

When I visited in 2006 plans were being discussed between FEVE and the Asturias Railway Museum at Gijon about running steam excursions over the metre gauge lines, but I'm not aware of them reaching fruition.

 

Here is a picture of one of the luxury trains stabled at El Ferrol in March 2006. Ferrol is the jumping off point (irony intended) for the well-heeled clientele travelling on to Santiago de Compostela.  The locomotive is a dual-mode overhead electric/diesel, as built onto the chasses of obsolete Alsthiom diesels of the 1000 series.

 

In contrast, regular passenger services at Ferrol were in the hands of rather brutal looking railcars, though apparently they performed better than they looked!  This particular unit was one of several later sold to Costa Rica, while others went to the Belgrano Railway in Argentina.

 

Freight traffic was certainly important to FEVE too.  Here is a coal train being filled from the conveyor at La Robla, triple headed by three locomotives of the 1500 series (1503, 1514 and 1501).  Some of these locomotives have also been sold to Argentina.  Note the dual gauge track.

[long island jack]

Back to 1999 and my day at Tarragona, the main traffic on and of the docks was imported coal (sounds familiar) which seemed to be all going to Teruel power plant north of Tarragonna, these would be hauled by 250 electrics to a junction at Samper,

then pairs of 319 diesels would take the train up the branch to the power plant, was hoping to catch some 319's on these coal trains at Tarragona, but my luck was out that day

 

250.017 leaving Tarragona yard with loaded coal

 

250.015 sitting in Tarragona yard

 

most of the day 311's moved empties/loaded coal hoppers on and off the docks, I found myself a great location in the middle of the triangular junction, next to the main road crossing on to the docks, to my surprise there was a small bar(home from home!!), which sold cold beer and sandwiches, you could sit outside under the shade of a palm tree, the crossing bells would go, a quick look round to see if it was the main line or the dock, click another photo, another cold beer!

 

 

the above were taken by the bar

 

252.035 on a Talgo set ,taken from the road crossing

 

had to walk 2 minutes from the bar to catch 311.131 propelling  empties into Tarragona yard

 

after a pleasant couple of hours and a few cold beers I made my way back over to the station, by this time the cold beer had started to flow, when you've gotta go, you've gotta go, on arrival back on the platform, there was a Euromed just about to depart, it seemed to have chugging sound coming from it, which was strange as it was electric!!,well as it left I couldn't believe my luck!!!!

a 308,308.029 was waiting to take empties onto the docks, i thought these had all be withdrawn!!

A quick shot across the crossing(not to the bar) to try and get a shot going onto the docks, wrong! it went up the mainline to the other yard

it came back light engine, and went on the docks and was never seen again!!

 

this all happened through the day, with other stuff up and down the mainlines.

 

Ray

 

[Frutigen]

Really enjoying the Tarragona pictures. I was there in Feb 2011 and liked the place a lot. By then the Euromeds had been converted to standard gauge and sent off the reinforce the high speed network, where passengers were growing. The Euromed service was now in the hands of class 130 Talgo units. I remember the level crossing on the bend, too, but I think I read that it has now been replaced by a pedestrian underpass. Shame, as it was a very atmospheric location.

 

Anyway, here are some pictures from that visit.

 

A pair of 269s arriving from the north, looks like they're hauling steel coil. A class 253 (Bombardier TRAXX) approaching the crossing from the south. A general view of the station with the 269s, a 253, some coal wagons and a class 470 emu on view. And finally, one of those dock locos lurking behind a wall that separates the docks from the main line.

[Frutigen]

Not quite a train photo this, but one of my favourite things about Tarragona was that you could sit in the old Roman arena and see the catenary on the main line with the blue med as a backdrop.

[long island jack]

I went back to Tarrogona in 2009,crossing was still in but sadly the bar was shut and boarded up,it was right where you'd take that shunter photo

Snap!!!

 

Ray

[EddieB]

At this rate, Tarragona might merit a thread of its own - particularly if anyone has photos of the Garratts that were based there towards the end of steam.

 

Here's a few shots from May 2003, trying not to duplicate what has been posted already.

 

First, a view of the dock lines, with car transporters - take your Seats! (groan)

 

On shunting duties that day was 311-156-4, pausing next to the level crossing.

 

250-605-3 was the last in a sub-series of the 250 class modified with chopper control - I think the brown and cream livery was to differentiate them from the standard series.

 

269-273-9 about to resume its journey southward.

[McGomez]

Some great photos of Tarragona.

 

I can only supply 1 photo taken on a visit on a Sunday back in 1993.

They stabled the locos adjacent to the station at weekends and there was always a healthy line-up awaiting Monday morning.

Taken from a similar position as per one of Frutigens images.

 

Tarragona 1993 by McGomez441, on Flickr

 

[long island jack]

I've loads of photos at Tarragona, and not much from anywhere else, these are from Salou 2009,passenger trains.

 

252.056 departing Salou bound for Valencia

 

Euromed heading for Barcelona

 

The short lived 490 "Alaris" emu

 

130 Talgo on a Barcelona service

 

Ray

Edited May 15, 2017 by long island jack

[McGomez]

Keep the photos of Tarragona coming Ray. I´m enjoying them.

 

Here is one I took a couple of weeks ago.

333.357 is seen slogging up the gradient in the Campo de Ulea, Murcia with the Friday afternoon container train to Madrid Abroñigal yard.

Teco Murcia Madrid - Ulea. by McGomez441, on Flickr

 

[McGomez]

There is another Murcia to Madrid container train that runs on Tuesday evenings that also conveys a rake of empty covered steel coil wagons destined for either Bilbao or Asturias.

Seen here in the passing loop at Cieza awaiting the penultimate Talgo of the day from Madrid to Cartagena to pass.

 

In this view, the same train is seen leaving Cieza.

This was the first time I had seen these "end of train" markers. They usually use 2 flashing red lights on the rear.

 

[long island jack]

2012 sore us in Majorca, staying in Port Soller, we used the trams and buses to get about, these photos are taken in the square at Soller 

 

Rush hour in Soller

 

Phew, time for a drink!!!,temps were high at midday

 

A view from the bar

 

a cooling drink, got to keep in the shade

 

another from the bar, with the Cathedral behind

 

Ray

[long island jack]

back to 1999 at Tarragona, as mentioned in post #54 was hoping to see some 319's on the coal, but never turn up, did see a couple that day

 

319.202 on a van train taken at the road crossing

 

While getting some more refreshment at the station bar, another 319 sneaked in behind some coal hoppers, it was then shut down.

 

444 emu at the northern end of the station

 

252.021 on a Arco service to Barcelona

 

Ray

 

 

 

[Guest]

back to 1999 at Tarragona, as mentioned in post #54 was hoping to see some 319's on the coal, but never turn up, did see a couple that day

 

Unrebuilt 319s and my personal favourite electric, the 252. Excellent stuff. The 319 in the second picture... is that just a variation on the "Taxi" livery? It's a bit hard to tell, but it looks more blue than grey?

 

Edit: ...never mind, I've answered my own question (Google is your friend)... definitely blue and not Taxi livery at all.

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ut209yasea12/4026527990/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ut209yasea12/4710921553/

Edited May 19, 2017 by Pete 75C

[JeffP]

Three of Spanish locos, taken around summer 1999, not in Spain, but at the SNCF station at Cerbere.

 

[Stevelewis]

Oh  Dear  pics  of  the  Soller  Raiway,  I am  now  reaching  for  my  travel  brochures!!  I  have  ridden  that  line  so  many  times but  not  recently,  so  I  think  a  return  is  called  for.

 

Incidentally  on our  most  recent  trip  when  leaving   our  Hotel in Pto Soller  the  Taxi driver managed  to  collide   with  a  tram  ( or rather  the  tram collided  with   the  taxi as  the  driver  halted on  the  tram  crossing!)  a little  damage  to  the  taxi  but  the  journey to  the  airport  was  completed  just  about, 

[bensanchez43310]

There is another Murcia to Madrid container train that runs on Tuesday evenings that also conveys a rake of empty covered steel coil wagons destined for either Bilbao or Asturias.

Seen here in the passing loop at Cieza awaiting the penultimate Talgo of the day from Madrid to Cartagena to pass.

17-04-25 Cieza Teco mas Acciona 333 (3) - copia.JPG

 

In this view, the same train is seen leaving Cieza.

This was the first time I had seen these "end of train" markers. They usually use 2 flashing red lights on the rear.

17-04-25 Cieza Teco mas Acciona 333 (12) - copia.JPG

 

My guess would be Asturias, more than likely Gijon as it is a port town and there is a lot of industry in and around Gijon, based on a visit last summer.

 

Ben

[McGomez]

I agree Ben but for some reason I have Bilbao in my head.

If it is Asturias it would probably be Trasona.

[EddieB]

319s?  Mmmmmmm!

 

Of the original 319.2 series, the first eighteen were painted in the blue/yellow scheme, but nos. 219/220 received the "Estrella" livery.

 

319-215-0 was still in the original livery, seen at Martorell in 2003.

 

319-219-2 at Merida in 1988, was one of the pair in "Estrella".

 

However 319-208-5, at Zaragoza-Delicias in 2005 had received the grey/yellow ("taxi") livery (which it had when I saw it at Miranda de Ebro two years ealier).

 

The 319.0 class is fully withdrawn, and sadly I never saw any of the ten "hood" locomotives, that were rebuilt into the double cab style.  Here are a couple of pictures of the standard Macosa design, from 1988 (the photos, the locos were introduced in 1965), when they carried old and new numbers.

 

319-045-1 waiting for the road at Zaragoza El Portillo station.

 

319-042-8 pilots a class 276 electric at Lerida, a comparison showing how massive the profile of these locomotives was.

[long island jack]

the highlight of my 2009 trip to Tarragona, was with out doubt, the VIAS 321,being a Alco fan the sound and smoke pulling away from  the station was magic!!!

 

 

Ray

[meld]

Hi All.

 

My Flickr Album, https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikecubberley/albums/72157645041616923 , from a 2011 PTG FEVE week long tour.

 

Enjoy at your leisure

 

MC

[long island jack]

some photos in the station at Palma, on the metre gauge SFM (serveis ferroviaris de Mallorca) which runs to Sa Pobla and Manacor, there's also the Metro which runs to Marratxi and UIB (university) you can cover the whole network easily in a day including time for refreshments!!!.

 

 

Ray

 

[long island jack]

Hi All.

 

My Flickr Album, https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikecubberley/albums/72157645041616923 , from a 2011 PTG FEVE week long tour.

 

Enjoy at your leisure

 

MC

some great photos,looks an interesting line

 

Ray

[long island jack]

back to Tarragona 2009, some shots under the "knitting"

 

252-061 with a Talgo to Valencia

 

269-077 with Seat cartics

 

335-011 on a container train, think it was going to Portugal

 

269-104 on a train of open wagons, full of pine trees, you could smell it as it went past

 

 

Ray