Iberian Interlude

A trip to Spain's Costa Dorada in summer 1969, driving down through France, gave the chance to see 1668mm main line RENFE steam. 'Iberian' gauge, a shade under 5'6'', was unique to Spain and its neighbour Portugal whose main railways were 1664mm gauge, virtually the same and close enough to allow through running.

We arranged a permit to visit San Andres Railway workshops in Barcelona, which was still overhauling steam locos. There seemed to be quite a number of stored ex-works steam at various sheds visited -though it seems likely that many never actually worked again with dieselisation and electrification continuing apace at the time.

A large boiler with double chimney on test at Barcelona San Andres Works on 15 July 1969; I have a note it was new, but not sure about that. Loco types in the Works that day were one 141F 2-8-2, four 240F 4-8-0 and eight 241F 4-8-2.

At the other end of the scale is 90 year old 0-6-0 030 2464, below, dumped at Barcelona Pueblo Nuevo on 15 July. It was constructed by Hartmann & Co in 1879.

A big attraction at Tarragona shed were 2-8-2+2-8-2 Garratts. RENFE had 16 in total, ten of which were built in 1960/61.

Four of them, all oil burners, are on view here. Spain was the last country in Europe that had active main line Garratts,we saw three in steam on this day, 11 July. In our week in Spain, we saw 14 of the class, six being in steam/working.

Sadly the magnificent 4-6-2+2-6-4 Garratts no longer worked express passenger services to Tarragona from Valencia.

Stored steam outnumbered working locos and the scene below at Tarragona depicts some 4-6-0s and a couple of 0-8-0s, which probably never worked again.

We paid a brief but worthwhile visit to Mora La Nueva on 13 July, arriving by train at 18.05 and leaving at 19.30, enough time to visit the loco depot, a ten road straight shed and a half roundhouse open to the elements; thirty steam engines were present, a dozen being in steam. At that date Mora was a changeover point from electric to steam or diesel traction and there was a fair bit of activity at the station with freight and passenger trains changing motive power.

240F 2712 leaves Mora at 19.00 with train 1815 14.55 Barcelona - Caspe, due 20.45, which arrived with electric haulage. 

240F 2681 also in view will take a freight towards Zaragoza, which came in behind an electric loco. The third loco, 240F2263,had been  engaged in shunting the freight.

Below left, in the shed yard is ex-works 4-8-2 241F 2248, black livery with red painted rods and a red edge on its smoke deflectors, built by Maquinista in 1951. Below right, eight of its classmates were on shed including 241F 2243, far right,  in steam.

A 'Museum of the Railway' was established in Mora La Nueva  by RENFE in later years and is still open in 2023. There are various exhibits including a couple of steam locos, also the signal box seen above has survived. 

On 17 July we spent a few hours at Lerida. The Barcelona to La Coruna express seen during our sojourn here was headed by 4-8-2 241F 2216, but we were visiting the shed at the time and sadly I didn't get a picture.

4-8-0 240F 2673, below, with double chimney and smoke deflectors, works the Lerida shed shuttle service, just one carriage. The loco, built in 1952, was one of 247 of this class constructed between 1935 and 1953.

At Lerida there was an old and new shed, with the former,above, housing stored locos, mostly big 4-8-4 tank

locos awaiting their fate on 17 July; they used to work suburban trains around Barcelona prior to electrification.

The new shed had a decent number of working locos, but also,below, a line of stored intact 4-8-0s, for possible reuse, with some attempt made to board up the cabs.

A working 4-8-0 at Lerida on 17 July was 240F 2301 pictured leaving the station with the 15.10 Correo up the branch to Pobla de Segur, due there at 18.10 after a journey of 89 kms. The railway did not reach Pobla until 1951 on what was originally planned to be a line through the Pyrenees to France. The route is famed for its lakes, 31 bridges, 41 tunnels and mountainous terrain. In November 1989 I travelled on a special from Lerida to Pobla hauled by 2-8-2+2-8-2 Garratt 282F 0421. There is nowadays a tourist service TREN DELS LLACS with vintage diesel locos and carriages.

The 141F 2-8-2, a class of 242 locos built between 1953 and 1960, have been described as 'exceptionally capable machines'.

Here is 141F 2245 passing Lerida shed on 17 July with the 08.15 Zaragoza - Barcelona (due 19.00) Correo - mail - train. It was preceded by the 09.50 Expreso from Zaragoza, due Barcelona at 17.40, hauled by 141F 2231.

Same day, same place sees 4-8-4T 242F 0221 in steam in the goods yard. RENFE had quite a number of large tank locos. A few years earlier, the shunting engine in goods yards would probably have been an ancient 0-6-0.

Garratt 282F 0430 at Lerida on a tanker train. It was followed by another Garratt, 282F 0426, on a mixed freight.

141F 2301 left at 15.20 with train 285 09.35 Barcelona - Zaragoza Correo, brought in by 141F 2310. A leisurely 35 minutes was allowed for the stop here. This view shows the impressive and imposing station building, opened in 1927, and still in use in 2017. As well as the broad gauge, it now serves standard gauge high speed Madrid - Barcelona services.