FGC's Historic Train

The 18th of December 2011 feels distant now, when the newly restored FGC 1003 ex. MOP/MO (Manresa - Olvan), built in 1955 by Alstom, departed with the following composition: 1003 + F13 + Cars C31 + C36 + C-103 + C-117 + HG219 from Martorell Enllaç to Manresa Alta and vice versa.

Organized by the Barcelona Railway Enthusiasts Association, passengers embarked on a double composition of units 213 from Barcelona - Pl. España, traveling to Martorell Enllaç to connect with the historic train to Manresa Alta. The return journey would be identical but in reverse.

Here we have the composition on the return journey, from Manresa Alta to Martorell Enllaç, photographed at the departure of the Monistrol Aeri station, already within the municipal term of Esparraguera.

Estrella in Portbou

It has been years since the last of the surviving Estrella services, the Costa Brava, concluded its route in Barcelona, rendering its own name meaningless. The months when it only traveled to Cerbère on weekends now feel distant, serving as a foreshadowing of what was to come...

Currently, it faces an imminent demise, ironically being one of the few services remaining in our country operated by conventional equipment. The allure of trains in Spain is waning, as 30 years have passed since the glorious 1980s, when express trains stretched for dozens of cars and the soundscape was dominated by the rumble of diesel engines or the hum of rheostatic systems. Everything began to deteriorate. We are witnessing the end of an era, and this is its ultimate casualty.

Here, we see just completing its service, reversing from Cerbère and entering Portbou, where it will await the return journey to Madrid.

Brief foray into France

End of the line, Regional train No. 15845, operated by units 470-090 and 470-095, ventures into French territory. At that time, the regional services of the Ca2 line covered the route between Barcelona - Sants and Cerbère, allowing passengers to travel to the latter but requiring the return journey to Portbou through the international tunnel. Passengers traveling from Cerbère to Portbou had to use an SNCF train.

In these two snapshots, we witness the departure sequence from Cerbère to Portbou. In the first, the station manager signals the train's departure, akin to what would be called "All aboard" in English.

In the second image, we see the double units preparing to enter the international tunnel.

The last ARCO García Lorca

The Arco train No. 00694 from Seville Santa Justa/Málaga María Zambrano/Badajoz/Almería to Barcelona Sants, speeds through the Altafulla - Tamarit halt on its last trip with conventional equipment, before being replaced by a double Alaris S/490 composition that didn't serve all destinations and wouldn't last long either.

A complicated and complete day

At the exit of Barcelona - Sants station, heading south, in what is nowadays referred to as "the Sants box," the tracks passing between the neighborhoods of Sants and Bordeta were covered. To carry out the catenary change, the circulation was halted for a few days.

I decided to go on a day that threatened a storm, which turned out to be a good idea. I headed to Arbós, where I managed to photograph various trains that had been diverted. Shortly afterward, the storm began to loom in the background, providing me with the opportunity to take some fantastic photos with the sun shining at a perfect angle and the overcast sky as a backdrop.

Soon after, I received information that a catenary hitch had occurred at the southern exit of San Saturnino de Noya, resulting in all traffic being single-tracked between San Saturnino and La Granada. To minimize the impact, some unusual overtaking maneuvers were carried out.

In the first snapshot, we see the Talgo No. 01171 from Barcelona Sants to Murcia del Carmen passing through Arbós.

In the second snapshot, we see the Regional Express No. 18091 from Hospitalet de Llobregat to Tortosa.

In the third snapshot, after a long wait due to the hitch, the Euromed No. 01152 from Valencia to Joaquin Sorolla – Barcelona Sants, departs from the siding at Arbós towards Barcelona, while the Regional Express No. 18054 from Tortosa to Hospitalet de Llobregat awaits its turn to depart.

For the fourth snapshot, I moved to the Lavern - Subirats halt, where the storm was at its peak.

I sympathize with the poor driver of this train, who has to advance painfully slowly due to the fact that his train has lost the windshield wiper blade. It was the final touch to a day that was already complicated enough. This train is the Regional Express No. 15014 from Zaragoza Delicias to L'Hospitalet de Llobregat.

When the storm passed, I headed to La Granada, where I had the pleasure of seeing for the last time as a common occurrence, a single 269 series locomotive. It was the 269-211, the first one built by MACOSA.

From that date onwards, all the ones I saw were tandems. The original headlight housing with the double optics is striking. It's the TECO Barcelona-Morrot – Bilbao Mercancías No. 80863.

The good old times

In this snapshot, we can observe the former FEVE station of León - Matallana during its final months of operation. Since then, efforts have been made to transform the line into an urban tramway in the section closest to the city in order to pacify the area. However, numerous delays and bureaucratic hurdles have resulted in uncertainty regarding its reopening even 9 years later.

Sharing the station, the MAN 2605 awaits to operate a Cercanías (local train) service to Guardo, alongside the 2705 which would depart at 14:00H, serving the only Regional train to Bilbao for the day.

The old reliable

The Potash Train No. 53552 from Manresa Clasificación to Flix, sped through Vacarisas Apeadero on San Fermín's day, pulled by the pseudo-tandem of locomotives 269-352.

It was fortunate to see locomotives 269 in the UN livery clean at that time; few remained. The original catenary poles of the line, from the Cía. de Caminos de Hierro del Norte de España, are still visible.

Nearly 10 years later, I managed to photograph them with the then-new GoTransport livery.

An afternoon of cava

Next to the renowned wine cellars of San Saturnino de Noya, I decided to spend a warm summer afternoon.

The TECO (goods train) No. 91811 from Barcelona Morrot to Madrid Abroñigal, pulled by the pseudo-tandem 269-856.

Shortly after, a locomotive transfer passed by, pulled by the 269-098 and 269-075, marked with the number CW389 between Barcelona - Casa Antúnez and Zaragoza Plaza.

And the day's goal, capturing the sunset with the Trenhotel Galicia No. 00922 from Barcelona Sants to Vigo/A Coruña.

Elusive

After two years (I wasn't exactly putting much effort into it), I finally encountered the "Pastas Gallo," the only regular freight train on the Barcelona - Ripoll line. The issue was that it didn't have a fixed schedule; it operated on demand. It usually passed through once a week, but never at the same time.

Luckily, one day as I was passing through the station, it appeared. It was the "Pastas Gallo" facultative Grain Train No. 82353 from Córdoba-El Higueral to Granollers Canovellas.

Brand new

The spotless 253-102 from Comsa Rail Transport, with only a few days of service behind it, heads the TECO No. 98589 Cross Rail Barcelona-Morrot – Zaragoza-El Espartal, as it passes through La Granada station.

Longer than a month of Sundays

Pulling into Arbós, this Pecovasa car transporter enters, in special service from Martorell - Seat to Venta de Baños, marked with the number 93805. Due to its early arrival, it was parked at this station for about 90 minutes. With a substantial length of 527 meters, it's a long train by Spanish standards.

Too salt-laden

The Potasero No. 53552 from Manresa Clasificación to Flix, a pseudo-tandem of Japanese locomotives 269-852, passes through the entry switches of Arbós station at a brisk pace.

HUPAC's TECO

Before the usual culprits defaced the newly repainted 252, my aim was to photograph the HUPAC TECO from Barcelona-Morrot - Le Soler - Milano - Aarau/Basel.

Due to its schedule, the only decent spot with adequate light was this one. Although, in my opinion, it's a very popular location, this train looks good. It contrasts with the congested highway.

Constrasts play

The pseudo-tandem 269-853 is pulling the Grain Train No. 81585 from Martorell - Zaragoza Clasificación - Canfranc as it passes through Arbós station.

During those times, spotting Japanese locomotives in UN livery would brighten your day, but it's evident that the company didn't bother to keep them presentable. Rarely have I seen a train so dirty.

On the other hand, that same evening, I saw the 470-117 freshly repainted with the "R" recently applied at the Vilanova i la Geltrú workshops, operating Regional No. 15045 from Barcelona Término to Lleida Pirineus, making its scheduled stop at San Vicente de Calders.

Find the 7 differences

On this occasion, we can see two shunting tractors from different countries and operators, taking a break in Portbou.

There is nothing left anymore

Progress for progress's sake.

In the now-defunct level crossing near Tarragona station, the 440-166 enters, covering Regional Express No. 15042 from Lérida Pirineos to Barcelona Término.

Both of these no longer exist today. The iconic level crossing was removed on April 26, 2011, and the unit was scrapped around the same time.

To the right, ADIF technicians are putting the final touches on the tracks and entrance switches to the sidings of Tarragona after the last car of a coal train, pushed by an Adif Mabi 311, derailed the previous night

Punctual regional

The Regional train No. 15402 from Lérida Pirineos to Barcelona Término, via Reus, arrives promptly on track 1 of La Plana - Picamoixons, served by the 470-128M.

The two differents

On a chilly winter morning, I witnessed the encounter of two units different from the rest of the series at Tarragona station.

On the left, the 002, the only unit with 2 cars, as on March 30, 2002, it was involved in an accident with a Euromed train in Torredembarra, waiting to serve Regional No. 15407 from Tarragona to La Plana - Picamoixons.

On the right, the 028, the last one without refurbishment in regional services, serving Regional Express No. 15017 from Barcelona Termino to Zaragoza Delicias.

In the reserve

The 448-028 patiently awaits early in the morning on track 15 of Barcelona - Término to operate the Regional Express service from Barcelona Término to Zaragoza Delicias in the afternoon, with train number 15015.

To the right, the Alaris will wait all day until its departure in the evening, serving the Alaris No. 01391 from Barcelona Sants to Valencia Norte.