308 diesel

Thanks to the funds poured by BIRD over the period 1964/1973, RENFE can continue the dieselization of the network. It is within this framework that will be delivered 41 machines intended for the heavy operations and the trailer of the trains on the secondary lines and the short distances. It is about an American model, selected on the catalog of the manufacturer: the type U 10 B of General Electric, already in service on many networks. It will give rise to the series 10800 , then 308 of the Renfe. One does not know too much why the Renfe chooses this type rather than to continue the series 10700 /307 which had apparently given satisfaction. If the argument of a preoccupation with a diversification does not hold the road, perhaps it is necessary to seek side of the facility of the provisioning (of other Spanish companies having models close General Electric, to start with the BROAD BEAN) but also of the concern of making work the national companies.

Design

The basic type is slightly modified to adapt to the constraints of the Spanish network: a boiler is added in order to feed from possible passenger cars. The appearance different slightly from the original type, General Electric renames them like type UM 10 B . The first order relates only to 13 units. Only the first five machines are manufactured in the United States (and it seems assembled in Irish Republic). All others will leave factories Galindo Babcock & Wilcox (for which they forms type GU 10), holder of the license of the products General Electric for Spain. The first units service entrance give satisfaction, and two other contracts are concluded with the Basque firm in November and December 1966 for the supply from 12, then of 16 additional machines.

Detail of the deliveries:

Service

Unloaded with Tarragone, the engines built in the United States are at once transferrées with Seville - Santa Justa and are engaged on the trailer of the slow trains on the lines with weak traffic. They are quickly joined by the manufactured units with Bilbao, except for seven assigned to Valence and one kept in reserve with Tarragone. Quickly called " Yé-yé" , these machines do not know particular problems, if one excludes some difficulties of development of the heating with vapor and… an excess of power! The second batch east distributes between] (4 units) and Tarragone, while the totality of the third batch is assigned to Madrid Atocha. After division of the Renfe in various activities, with the beginning of the year 1990, they are exploited in pool with the 310 and 311.1. About thirty receive the gray and red delivered news.

Little by little évincées of the service of line, they become also surplus with the operations because of reduction in the number of goods trains, of the reorganization of sortings, and the competition of series much more recent. The reforms start in 1996. The 303-025 is preserved by the Fundacion of los Ferrocarriles Españoles and is given in country of origin. The 308-018 is resold with TECSA in 2000.

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