REPORT



THE "LLEIDA REGION" TOURIST STEAM TRAIN


JOAN VELASCO



Since the closing of the Renfe steamengines in 1975, only a very little part of the extensive and varied park was saved (and no one big engine was save). There was some examples in the Madrid Delicias and Vilanova i Geltrú museums. Other ones finished on pedestals or donated to associations to be repaired and maintained. Some engines were be repaired to work with special and commemorative trains, but the absence of maintenance and other reasons have made the irregular fulfilment of these journeys. It didn«t seem to be a great interest in the preservation of the historic material, like in other european countries where the historic tractions are maintained and frecuent journeys are made with these machines, both the raiway managements and the companies and associtations with tourist railway lines.

In our country the initiative made by Catalonia Railways (F.G.C.) is stood out. In the beginning of the 80's the F.G.C. began the operation of a steamengine. Because of the results actually, there are three engines making weekly journeys. Like wise, the Rio Tinto Railway, The Leon Railway Friends Association (with two engines wich are a Endesa property), make commemorative and tourist journeys. About Renfe, except yhe accidental steam traction of the "Tren de la Fresa", we must go to 1988 when there were some regular journeys between Blanes and Barcelona and after, the campaign "Ara Lleida a Vapor" between Lleida and Pobla de Segur. But the inneffective commercial management and other problems stopped the continuation of these journeys.


The Garrafeta in the Lleida station.


THE "LLEIDA REGION" TOURIST TRAIN PROJECT

In September of 1995 a large project of tourist reconversion of the Lleida-Pobla de Segur line (eternally closing threataned) was written in the presence of the Lleida Government, and it was quickly assumed as a way of impulse the development of the region and to save the line from the closing. The contacts with the Spanish Railway Foundation was begun and thank to Rafael Ruiz Sanchidrián, the museum background manager, the selection of the more suitable material and the negotiation for its granting could be begun. It was signed a material granting agreement between the Foundation, the Lleida Government and the Lleida Railway Frinds Association, wich would take care of the operation and management in the beginning. In january of 1998 the administrative award of the "Lleida Region Turistic Train" operation was awarded to the "Association for the Historic Railway material Reconstruction", known as ARMF, a non-lucrative association, subsidized by the regional Government. At once, ARMF undertakes the train publicity promotion and the route designs with its complementay amusements like visits to museums, meals, etc. The main objective is the fulfilment of the charter journeys for schools, companies, associations, etc., without forgetting the opened journeys for the pubic.

THE MATERIAL

The choice by the technical team was the articulated en 282F-0421 type as the more suitable one for a line with a difficult route like the Pobla one, both for its power and because it's articulated synnetrical (it doesn't meeds to be turned in a plate), with fuel and with an acceptable range. First of the 10 units series built between 1960 and 1961, wich original project (6 units built in 1931) was included in the Aragon Central Railway old company. It must be stood out that they were the last steam engines given to Renfe and about the traction effort was only excelled by the mythical Santa Fe one.

The Garrat (known as Garrafeta) was abandoned in the Villaverde factoy since 1993 and its arrival to Lleida in July 1996 eas submit a large repairing that used 14.400 works hours.

The general facts are:
- Running in: Mikado 141-141
- Length: 25,3 meters
- Weight: 170 Tons
- Nominal power: 1.800 CV.
- Boiler: 15 Kg/cm2
- Water: 25,5 Tons
- Diesel Oil: 13 Tons
- Supply: ACFI bomb+ Friedman Inyector
- Maxim Velocity: 70 Km./h
- Traction Effort: 22.200 Kg to the hook

About the coaches, were be received three 6000 type and one 5000 type. Built between 1947 and 1960e lateral corridor and eight passenger departaments. They have electric heating and the ARMF staff had to repaired the steam heating and the interior decoration. Inwardly, they have kept an impeccable original condition and on the exterior part the numerals were painted in a dark green and the markings in yellow according with the period. The weight is 40 tons and its length is 21,3 meters. The authorized maxim velocity is 100 km/h. The total number of seats is 232. After there hace been received two 6000 joined by Allianz couplings. These are old third class waggons and they have a very bad preservation. When the economic conditions and the time permit it, one of them wil be repaired as one third class and the other as lounge-bar.

In July of 1997, a PD waggon was acquired from the D.G.C. as service, and was repainted with the dark green classic plan.


A nocturnal view of the Garrafeta.


THE WAREHOUSE

To make the necessary repairing, protect them from the weather and from the vandalism, it was ibtained the granting of the Pla de Vilanoveta old workshop (near of Lleida) by Renfe. It was almost abandoned and it was cleaned and adapted. This workshop has 6 rails with pits, offices and her branch-offices.

It has machines, tools, soldering equipments and four jacks with a capacity of 20 tones each one.

COMMERCIAL ROUTES

- Lleida-Pobla de Segur: Beatiful countryside. Museums.
- LleidaÐBalaguer: Monumental city.
- LleidaÐRaimat: Cultivation and vineyards visit.
- LleidaÐBorges Blanques: Oil mill visit.
- LleidaÐEsplugues de Francolí: Poblet monastery visit.
If there is a demand enough other routes could be planned according with the possibilities of the material and the transport operator.

1998, THE FIRS YEAR

1998 has been the first year in wich tourist train has work. The results have been very promising, and a large number of journeys has been made, both charter and opened to the public with a large demand of seats, having to make a waiting list. The results of the firs year have been:BR>
- 33 made journeys
- 3.574 travelled kilometers
- 8.499 passengers
It must be stood out the detachments made in the commemorative of the Valencia-Teruel line, and the celebration of the 150 Railway Anniversary in the peninsula between Barcelona-Mataró.

THE FUTURE

The next activity of ARMF will be to acquire more material to be able to attend to the seat demand. To make this, not only the two 6000 waggons previously cited will be repaired, but other additional waggons will be acquired, as well as a lounge-bar.

Likewise, some plans are bing made to late and acquire a second steam engine to make the maintenance carrying out the obligations with the customers.

Other foresight is to acquire a steam little boiler and install it in the service waggon to make the ignite of the engine. This fact will save the difficulty of igniting the engine when the train is far from the warehouse. The wood ignite isn't suitable for a good maintenance of the fire box and the boiler because it is not much progresive ignite.

The hope of ARMF is to keep alive the historic railway heritage for us and the future generations enjoyment of this important part of the history that was the steam traction.

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