A great surprise

On one of those days when a plan falls through and you have nothing to do, we visited the "future" stop at Santa Perpetua - Riera de Caldes to see if anything interesting would pass by. What we encountered was nothing less than a lone 335 locomotive from COMSA Rail Transport, a catenary inspection vehicle from ADIF hauled by a 1900, and a 335 from Ferrovial hauling track maintenance machinery.

Here is the photo of the last train mentioned.

A more special day (and II)

Just like the previous day, I returned to Sant Pol de Mar to photograph the Estrella Costa Brava.

To the surprise of those present, it was hauled by the 252-023, the last locomotive to wear the UN livery of Renfe’s Grandes Líneas, which was the icing on the cake.

Another photo worth including in this post is of the international service that, early in the morning, connected Barcelona - Sants station with Figueres Vilafant via conventional tracks, allowing passengers to transfer to the TGV Figueres - Paris. The reason for this service was that the high-speed line to Barcelona was not yet operational.

A special day (I)

Due to the replacement of a bridge on the Barcelona - Portbou line via Granollers, in the town of Llinars del Vallès, the Estrella Costa Brava's name took on more meaning than ever for three days. Each day, I traveled to Sant Pol de Mar, specifically to three different spots, to photograph something so special. 

In the photo, the Estrella Costa Brava Madrid - Cerbère, passing through the entrance of Sant Pol de Mar.

One of the greats

One afternoon we went to the observation deck at Barcelona - El Prat Airport, where I had the chance to see one of the last Airbus A340s in Iberia's old livery.

A nice backlight

During Expotren 2012, held in Lleida, we visited the Railway Material Reconstruction Association located at Pla de Vilanoveta during their open day.

In the photo, we see the Baldwin 140-2054, formerly owned by Andalusian Railways, built in 1928 by Babcock & Wilcox in Bilbao, engaged in maneuvering at the ARMF facilities in Pla de Vilanoveta.

The smell of toast

Under a blazing sun, Regional train No. 15635 from Cervera to Lleida Pirineus passes by Pla de Vilanoveta Goods station, home to the Railway Material Reconstruction Association (ARMF). It was an open day, featuring various steam locomotives and other equipment restored by this commendable organization.

With the chill of the dew

On a freezing winter morning, the first rays of sunlight reveal the Estrella Costa Brava No. 00370 from Madrid Chamartín to Cerbère, slowing down to make its scheduled stop in Granollers.