Lorca a Baza y Aguilas 2-6-0 Locomotives in Spain

Class 1/130-2121 (Locobase 3352)

These "Scottish engines" had a list of builders that reads like a North British business directory: Kitson, Neilson; Sharp, Stewart (and their successor, North British).

These Moguls appeared on the LBA (aka more grandiosely as the Great Southern Railway of Spain) in batches -- 12 from Neilson, Reid in 1889-1890, 2 from Kitsons in 1894, 5 from Sharp, Stewart in 1901, and 6 from North British (which was an amalgam of Neilson, Reid and Sharp, Stewart among other builders) in 1905.

[] (confirmed 5 May 2003) supplies the names and builders for all the class. Numbered from 1-25 on the LBA and 130-2121 to 130-2145 on the RENFE, they were named Murcia, Lorca, Granada, Aguilas, Huercal, Baza, Gaudix, Pulpi, Albox, Cantoria, Tijola, Purchena, Seron, Almanzora, Zurgena, Caniles, Hijate, Fines, Olula, Jaravia, Lumbreras, Arboleas, Bacares, Macael, and Almendricos.

Morales adds that when the railway saw what the first batches could haul (mostly iron ore to the port of Hornillo), they ordered two more batches of this "truly British" Mogul. Locobase looks at the large grate and firebox relative to both the total heating surface area as well as the high boiler pressure of the later batches and the modest cylinder volume and thinks it's no wonder these were highly valued engines.

See also Justo Arenillas in "La material ingles en las pequenas companiasl", Lineas Del Tren (as reproduced on [], viewed 28 April 2003).

Nock (RWC III, pl 71) notes that many operated for more than 80 years. During all that time, he adds, they retained their British appearance and suffered few changes. "To the original owners," he concludes, "they must have proved a remarkably '"good buy."'"