captain greys GUIDE TO
PORTUGUESE
DIESEL
TRACTION
Below is a summary by captain Grey of current diesel types that can be found thrashing from coast to mountain in glorious Portugal.  
 
BROAD GAUGE LOCOS.
 
Class 1200
 
Feeble SOREFRAME glorified shunters that slug along the Algarve and Alentejo lines at a chronic top speed of about 45 m.p.h. Virtually thrash-less, these French designed 1961 abominations are best avoided at all cost.
 
Class 1400
 
For everything that has been said about the 1200's, the exact opposite is true for the 1400! These possess that distinct EE shrill of a Class 20 in a monstrous steeple-cabbed body of aesthetically pleasing design (sometimes known as 'Dogs' because of their looks). The first ten were actually constructed at the now legendary Vulcan Foundry (otherwise known as 'Mecca') whilst the remaining 57 were built under licence in Portugal between 1967-69. According to the excellent and now sadly out of print 'A Guide To Portuguese Railways' by Fearless Publications, the engine 'can loosely be regarded as half a B.R. Class 50 engine. The traction generator is a version of that in a Class 20.', and boy does it sound like it! Five have been withdrawn so far but the rest are really can do, will do locos. and are found the length and breadth of Portugal on every type of train - a kind of Portuguese Class 47 in this respect. Haulage hot-spots are:
 

1) The magnificent Douro Valley, where they have a          loco-hauled monopoly, sharing the services with DMU's.
 

2) Porto peak hour suburban trains up the Valley, North towards the Spanish Frontier at Valenca and the two Inter Regional trains to Braga.
 

3) Entroncamento-Badajoz(Spain).
 

4) Lisboa-Figueira da Foz route(on which there is an overnight move!).
 

5) Barreiro-Setubal commuters.
 

6) Becoming more and more common on the Algarve locals, displacing the rancid 1200's.
 

1400 Class, No. 1408 at Porto Sao Bento station.
You can see why they call them Dogs.
(picture courtesy of PTG)
 
Class 1501
 
All kneel and praise thee! Words can't really describe these beasts as there are none yet invented that do them justice. Unlike anything ever experienced on Britain's railways, these 1948-51 vintage locos are as American as, well.....
something very American indeed, say like, apple pie. Known as 'Alco's' or 'Switchers' these things let you know they're coming by the most outrageous fog-horn! The oldest mainline diesel in Portugal, they are now down to just 9 out of the original 17 left in action. All is not lost, however, with the preservation of 1501 and its painting into 'vintage' livery last year. This will be working the Portuguese Traction Group's 'Alco-Holic' railtour in April. I went to Portugal a 50 basher and came back a 1400,1501 and 1800 basher! You have been warned. Mental!

Traction tips:

1) Setubal locals

2) The Barreiro-Alentejo(Beja etc.)

3) Barreiro-Algarve.

 

1510 at Pamela
(picture courtesy of Hoppy)
 
Class 1551
 
Basically a 1973 modernised version of the 1501 Alco / Switcher, yet devoid of all the 1501's charm, thrash and sexy 1940's looks. That's not to say that there's zero thrash, indeed I know of several converts who mileage them. It's just in comparison to the other traction on offer in the big P, for me at least, they simply pale into insignificance. Again, typically North American and to be found all over Central Portugal.
 
Class 1800
 
The famous Portuguese 'Hoover'. Shorter and wider than the English version and sounding like a Class 40 when idling, there's no mistaking the EE heritage of these fine locos.
Now but a memory on top link passenger work it's quite depressing to think that the one last place on earth to do proper Hoover moves has now expired too. Thank God for the PTG!
 Class 1800 at Tunes
(picture courtesy of Hoppy)
 
 
Class 1901/1931
 
Unmistakably French in design origin and with the Z front of classic SNCF Traction. Not without serious thrash potential, but an arch enemy of a faithful Hoover man due to their take-over of all things Algarvian. The two classes are virtually identical, the main difference being the fitting of ETS equipment to the 1931 Class, hence their monopoly of top link duties in Portugal. Not the most reliable of locos - watch their diagrams carefully to see if an expiry has occurred and if indeed a 1501 or 1800 produces on their turn (less and less likely now that CP have made the same fatal mistake as BR did and blimmin' sectorised everything.)
 
Class 1961
 
Bombardier built (hence their nickname 'Bombs') these Canadian monsters are not to be turned down if at all possible. Although built as recently as 1979 the noise of one accelerating on a heavy train is well worth experiencing, although they are becoming increasingly under-utilized with the arrival of other types of traction(especially electric). Ugly in appearance and not without their critics, they can be found working mainly freight North and East of Figueira da Foz.
 
METRE GAUGE LOCOS.
 
Class 9000
 
Looking for all the world like the result of a pair of Class 20's having reproduced - yes that's right - a baby Chopper!
A wonderful, quirky delight, I couldn't help but laugh the first time I saw one of these 1958 vintage design beasts. Not particularly noisy but worth bashing for sheer novelty factor alone, these ex Spanish, Alsthom built monsters are all but a memory on passenger nowadays. Originally six in strength and now down to just three? your best bet is again with the PTG. 9004 has been saved and painted in very nice vintage blue and is currently based on The Corgo (Regua-Vila Real).
 
Class 9021
 
A later version of the 9000 but less stylish, these 1976-78 built locos are mechanically virtually identical to them. Once common on the Porto suburban system and many of the Douro branches, Tua-Mirandela provides the last strong-hold for them. Again, well worth a trip for novelty, and the stock used on this line is gorgeous!
 
ELECTRIC TRACTION
 
Not within the scope of this web site but, needless to say, there is some hellfire vintage Sparky action to be had. Go for the Lisbon-Guarda/Covilha trains, indeed anything with a booked engine change at Entroncamento.
 
See you over there,
 
Captain Grey
Captain Grey.
 
 
See the Diagrams page for further details of workings and operations.
for the mother of all portuguese traction web sites visit the portuguese traction group.
 
http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~flatlands