Javier Fernandez photo
|
1604 with a train of flat cars loaded with rails and sleepers
enroute to Gijón, Noreña-El Berrón station in1980. Javier Fernandez photo |
| The same train with a different view of the grimy 1604. Javier Fernandez photo |
 |
From 1964 into the 80s the Ferrocarril de Langreo in the northwest of
Spain rostered five standard gauge RS3's, numbered 1600 through
1604. 1600 - 1603 came secondhand from the Terminal Railroad Asscociation
(TRRA) of St. Louis, Missouri. The fifth unit, the FC de L. no. 1604, came
in 1971 from the Burlington Northern RR, USA. (it's actually a unit from
Great Northern, a railroad involved in the 1970 merger of the Burlington
Northern RR). The Alcos were used mostly for coal trains between the
connected mines and Gijon. Rarely they were used in passenger duties from
Gijón to Laviana, often with old (1880 to 1925 vintage) two axle
wooden coaches. Traveltime (of the faster trains) for the 55 kms was two
hours due to the weary tracks.
With the track reworking and regauging to meter gauge between 1983 and 84
the ALCos became obsolete and were scrapped finally. With them were ten ex
New Haven Mack railbusses by the way (no. 203 preserved at the Museo del
Ferrocarril de Asturias (Asturias Railroad Museum) in Gijón. The
ALCos were painted in a classy dark green with metallic stripes.
Thanks to Barton Jennings and Javier Fernandez.
 |
1601 with coal empties at Noreña-El Berrón, 1980.
Note the different trucks: roller bearing equipped at the front, while
the rear truck has friction berarings! Javier Fernandez photo |
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Last update 14.05.00