45. Holiday in Barcelona-09-16.08.13

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2013 > 45. Holiday in Barcelona-09-16.08.13

Our annual summer holiday took us to a very hot Barcelona. We had a smashing time even if my wife struggled with the heat a little. I managed a number of railway photographs that I have put together on just one file on the site even though they were taken on different days.

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Images 1-26 of 26 displayed.

14072, TMB Fondo-Hospital de Bellvitge working, Universitat station - 10.08.13
TMB (Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona) operates most of the Metro services in Barcelona along with FGC (Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya) and a very slick operation it is, with regular modern trains and smart stations. One of the older units in operation, A Series 4000, 14072, arrives at Universitat station on Line 1. My wife, son and I took this unit to Espanya where we were thrilled to watch the incredible Magic Fountain of Montjuïc (Font màgica de Montjuïc) display that takes place on several evenings every week during the tourist season.

NB I read that the display has been suspended for the 2024 season due to the unprecedented drought in Catlinoa (note added December 2024)
Keywords: 14072 Fondo-Hospital de Bellvitge working, (Universitat-Espanya) Universitat station

5143, TMB Zona Universitária-Trinitat Nova working, (Maria Cristina-Espanya) Maria Cristina station
Line 3 of the Barcelona Metro is operated by fairly new CAF Series 5000 units. One of these, 5143, arrives at Maria Christina station working a Zona Universitária to Trinitat Nova service. We took this train from here to Espanya. Notice that these units are 1,500v DC powered by fixed overhead electrical lines.
Keywords: 5143 TMB Zona Universitária-Trinitat Nova working Maria Cristina station

2, TMB Paral-lel-Parc-de Montjuïc funicular working, Fondo station
One of Barcelona's most recognisable landmarks and attractions is the Parc-de Montjuïc high above the city and its harbour. It can be accessed in a number of ways with my wife preferring to take the funicular railway that is partly under ground on its climb to the top of the park. We took funicular car number 2 from Paral-lel-Parc station at street level. The car is seen with passengers waiting whilst it arrives from the summit.
Keywords: TMB Paral-lel-Parc-de Montjuïc funicular working, Fondo station.jpg

1009, shunting wagons, Barcelona Harbour, from Montjuïc Castle
The commanding view of the vast and very busy Barcelona Harbour is impressive from the Montjuïc Castle. Looking down from the castle ramparts shunting locomotive 1009 operated by Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya on the harbour's extensive network of tracks is seen. I believe that it is hauling a rake of potash wagons on the network's metre gauge track. From this viewpoint, the locomotive bears a strong resemblance to a Class 20 if just a little shorter and I bet there would be no English Electric sound from its engine!
Keywords: 1009 shunting wagons Barcelona Harbour from Montjuïc Castle

254 02, stabled & 1009, shunting wagons, Barcelona Harbour, from Montjuïc Castle
Another view from the parapets of Barcelona's Montjuïc Castle sees what I believe to be an empty potash train being marshalled ready to return to Súria high up in the mountains to the west of Barcelona. 254 02 is also seen that will take the train from the harbour empty on the metre gauge track. This is one of just three locomotives dedicated to this work which were constructed in 1990 Meinfesa, a subsidiary of Stadler. Notice the gauge differences between the tracks in the foreground and those that the trains are on.
Keywords: 254 02 1009, shunting wagons Barcelona Harbour from Montjuïc Castle

310 055, shunting, Barcelona Harbour, from Montjuïc Castle
The Class 310 XXX date from the late 1980s and early 1990s being built by Meinfesa with General Motors Electromotive Division components in the form of engines and electrical transmissions. 310 055 is one of sixty built with a number now modified and reclassified and is seen from the ramparts of Barcelona's Montjuïc Castle idling below in the harbour complex.
Keywords: 310 055 shunting Barcelona Harbour from Montjuïc Castle

450 012, Rodalies R (Line)2 Vilanova i la Geltrú working, Barcelona-Sants station
Rather like Birmingham New Street Barcelona-Sants station is an underground station that is also rather dark and oppressive. However, unlike its West Midlands counterpart, it is not plagued by the stench of diesel fumes from idling Voyagers! A Rodalies Class 450 double-decker pauses at Saints station worked by 450 012 on its way to Vilanova i la Geltrú, a regional working to a town some twenty miles to the south of Barcelona.
Keywords: 012, Rodalies R Line Vilanova i la Geltrú working Barcelona-Sants station

103 614, Renfe 17.30 Barcelona-Sants-Madrid Atocha, Barcelona-Sants station
Taken in the dark depths of Barcelona's main Sants station one of Renfe's AVE (High Speed Train) Class 103s is ready to leave working the 17.30 service to Madrid Atocha. 103 614 is one of twenty-eight train sets built from 2007 that operate on this route between Barcelona and the capital. They are capable of speeds up to over three hundred miles per hour but are severely limited by the current signalling systems. However, it still only takes two and a half hours between the two cities.
Keywords: 103 614 Renfe 17.30 Barcelona-Sants-Madrid Atocha Barcelona-Sants station

130 025, Renfe 17.30 Barcelona-Sants-Madrid Atocha via Valencia, Barcelona-Sants station
Rather comically referred to as Ducklings, the Renfe Class 130s are technically impressive trainsets being multi-mode as well as dual gauge. In fact, they can change gauges whilst moving relatively slowly thus able to take advantage of both the standard and Iberian (1,668 mm) gauges. They are not as fast as some of the other Renfe trains but they are far more versatile. 130 025 waits to leave Barcelona Sants station with the 17.30 to Madrid taking the coastal route via Valencia.
Keywords: 130 025 Renfe 17.30 Barcelona-Sants-Madrid Atocha via Valencia, Barcelona-Sants station

Class 448, Renfe unidentified working from Barcelona-Sants, Barcelona-Sants station
It's comforting to see that Spanish railways also suffer from the scourge of the graffiti vandal. A daubed Renfe Class 448 stands in the darkness of Barcelona's Sants station waiting to leave with an unidentified service. before the squadron introduction of high-speed services these slab-fronted units were used on inter-city services but have now been put to use on regional services for which I suspect they are far better suited.
Keywords: Class 448 Renfe unidentified working from Barcelona-Sants Barcelona-Sants station

447 210, Rodalies 17.36 Barcelona-Sants-Martorell, Barcelona-Sants station
Wearing its Rodalies livery, 447 210 waits at Barcelona's Sants station to work the 17.36 service to Martorell a town inland from Barcelona better known for the huge Seat factory. Rodalies de Catalunya, to give its full name, is a state-owned regional and commuter operator. It operates a number of the Class 447s that, whilst not having a very high maximum speed are well known for their spirited acceleration!
Keywords: 447 210 Rodalies 17.36 Barcelona-Sants-Martorell Barcelona-Sants station

463 208, Renfe 16.01 Maçanet Massanes-Aeroport, Barcelona-Sants station
Spanish state operator Renfe introduced the Class 463 (along with the very similar Class 462, 464 and 465s) in 2003. Named Cicias they were built by CAF and Siemens for use on much of Spain's commuter network. 463 208 pauses at Barcelona's Sants subterranean station working the 16.01 Maçanet Massanes to Aeroport R2 service.
Keywords: 463 208 Renfe 16.01 Maçanet Massanes-Aeroport Barcelona-Sants station

Frontage, Barcelona França Station
The imposing frontage of Barcelona França Station looks superb on this hot summer afternoon. It was opened in 1848 and for many years was Barcelona's principal station until the opening of the subterranean Saints station in 1975. Initially, it was constructed to accommodate international services from France, hence its name, but increasingly it began to serve regional services and now many commuter trains, including the airport shuttle train, use the station.
Keywords: Frontage Barcelona França Station

Concourse, Barcelona França station
For the early evening, the concourse at Barcelona's França station is surprisingly quiet. The impressive marble domes are more akin to a church than a railway station. It displays a mixture of classical and more modern architectural styles that underwent a huge renovation in 1992 to coincide with Barcelona hosting the Olympics.
Keywords: Concourse Barcelona França station

130 024, Renfe unidentified working, stabled, Barcelona França station
Under the grand curved trainshed of Barcelona França station Renfe 130 024 rests between services. Despite searching I was unable to ascertain what train it had worked in and what it was to work later. Notice the well-kept and highly polished platforms putting many UK stations to shame.
Keywords: 130 024 Renfe unidentified working, stabled Barcelona França station

447 353, Renfe 18.18 Barcelona França-Tarragona, Barcelona França Station
447 353 leaves Barcelona França station with the 18.18 service to Tarragona. With no barriers I was able to wander about the superb station with impunity and take photographs, indeed, the railway official walking towards me whilst acknowledging me let me continue with no feeling that I ought not to be there or that I was to have asked permission; how refreshing!
Keywords: 447 353 Renfe 18.18 Barcelona França-Tarragona Barcelona França Station

470 093, stabled, Barcelona França station
With the cloud building at the end of what had been a very hot day heralding a very stormy night to come, 470 093 is seen stabled just outside Barcelona França station. The fifty-odd Renfe Class 470s are found throughout the Spanish network and are a development of the older Class 440 and have a maximum operating speed of nearly 90 mph.
Keywords: 470 093 stabled Barcelona França station

450 004, Rodalies unidentified working, Barcelona França station
An unidentified Rodalies suburban service enters Barcelona's França station worked by one of their fleet of Class 450s, 450004. Introduced in 1990, these high-density double-decker units are capable of carrying over a thousand seated passengers and a further eight hundred standing, not that I should imagine that this would be very pleasant!
Keywords: 450 004 Rodalies unidentified working Barcelona França station

470 039, Renfe unidentified working, Barcelona França station
Re-built from the Class 440 units in the mid-1990s the fifty-seven Class 470s are used on many inner and outer suburban services. 470 039 enters Barcelona França station with an unidentified working. This photograph clearly shows the wider Iberian (1,668 mm) used in much of Spain. It may appear that standing on the platform end of França station I would be immersed in the zounds of the surrounding city but it felt more like being in a rainforest with Barcelona zoo being just across the tracks to my left and it must have been feeding time judging by the sounds emanating from it!
Keywords: 470 039 Renfe unidentified working Barcelona França station

450 011, Renfe 18.25 Barcelona França-Sant Vicenç dels Horts, Barcelona França station
Double-decker high density 450 11 departs from Barcelona França station working the 18.25 service to Sant Vicenç dels Horts. This Catalonian town is a commuting distance south-east of Barcelona slightly inland on the banks of the Llobregat River.
Keywords: 450 011 Renfe 18.25 Barcelona França-Sant Vicenç dels Horts Barcelona França station

252 065, stabled, Barcelona França station
Constructed in the 1990s the sixty Class 252s are found throughout Spain working on the Iberian gauge track. Similar to how we operate in the UK it appears that 252 065 is stabled at Barcelona França station ready to undertake rescue missions as and when required.
Keywords: 252 065 Barcelona França station

Class 46X, rodalies unidentified working & 130 023, Renfe unidentified working, Barcelona França station
Despite the huge commercial development in downtown Barcelona, França station remains an impressive and commanding structure. The pair of huge iron arches look superb heralding the arrival (or departure) at what was once the city's primary station. Now, it plays a secondary role to Saints station but it is still a firm favourite with many. On this hot late afternoon, an unidentified Rodalies Class 46X and Renfe's 130 023 await their next turns of duty.
Keywords: Class 46X, Rodalies unidentified working & 130 023, Renfe unidentified working, Barcelona França station

Class 448, Renfe 18.47 Barcelona França-Lleida, Barcelona França station
An unidentified Class 448 waits inside Barcelona França station. The station was immaculately well kept, as can be seen by the shine to the platforms, putting much of the UK's major stations to shame.
Keywords: Class 448 Renfe 18.47 Barcelona França-Lleida Barcelona França station

Buffer stops, Barcelona França station
Nice to see a UK company represented on Spanish railways! The hydraulic buffer stops at Barcelona's França station protecting over-running trains are impressive pieces of hardware seen lining the platform ends. They were manufactured by Ransomes & Rapier of Ipswich who were renowned for their engineering skills that were utilised throughout the world including China's first railway from Shanghai to Wusong. Ransomes and Rapier themselves was a company hived off from Ransomes, also in Ipswich, which was better known for the manufacturing of Victorian farming equipment.
Keywords: Buffer stops, Barcelona França station

Line 1 stock, TMB Hospital de Bellvitge-Fondo working, Universitat station
A TMB series 3000 stock arrives at Barcelona's Universitat station. Introduced in 1984 this stock was the first word in modernity when new incorporating a number of very modern features such as ATO (automatic driving, although assisted by the rider), air conditioning, a public address system with automatic announcements, line plans with LED technology and indicators on the side of door opening; all today things that we have come to expect.
Keywords: Line 1 stock TMB Hospital de Bellvitge-Fondo working Universitat station

Frontage, Barcelona França station
I know that I visited Barcelona's França station earlier in my stay but on walking past today I could not resist another photograph of its grand facade and main entrance complete with its array of four flags fully extended catching a strong on-shore south-westerly wind.
Keywords: Frontage Barcelona França station

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