Hullero de la Robla a Valmaseda 2-8-0 Locomotives in Spain

Class unknown (Locobase 3242)

Data from Railroad Gazette (28 July 1898). See also DeGolyer, Volume 21, p.195 and Volume 23, p. 163. See also "Locomotora Baldwin 'La Robla'" martes, 31 de julio de 2018, posted on the Alma de Herrero (translates as "Soul of a Blacksmith") blog at []. last accessed 16 March 2023. Works numbers were 15978-15983 in June 1898; 18451-18452, 18472-18477 in December 1900; and 45349-45350 in March 1917.

Noting that these were shipped to Spain at the height of the Spanish-American War, the RG article noted the fraternization of US and Spanish soldiers after the surrender in Cuba in exculpation. Besides, it noted, these were six engines "not of war, but of peace; that is to say, freight locomotives." (Locobase has to believe the rationale to have been disingenuous even in 1898.)

Hullero de La Robla a Valmaseda was a 284-km (176-mile) mining railroad in Vizcaya. On the railway, the engines had names as well as numbers: Mena, Moittija, Sotoscueva, Val de Porres, Campoo, and Val de Olea. Alma de Herrero's account notes that despite the reputation of high coal consumption accorded American locomotive designs, the railway had no choice but to buy American. Inquiries into delivery dates offered by the French, German, Belgian, and English locomotive builders generated predictions of 16-24 months delays.

Baldwin replied that because of their efficiencies in production achieved by using pre-determined templates would result in six locomotives arriving at the port of Philadelphia for shipment in 60 days. Such a claim, said the blog, inspired a certain" reticencia" (unwillingness, reluctance) in the buyers.

The Baldwin specs offer an unusually detailed view of the operating conditions a design might have contend with. First, the key intervals on the line: "Distance bet. watering stations 24 kilos [ 14.9 miles]. Max load 160 tons. Distances bet. stops 13 1/5 kilometres. [ 8.2 miles]." Then there were the grades and curves: "Grade 2 1/2% combined with curves of 120 metres [9 1/2 degrees] radius. Longest curve 560 metres, 120 metres radius." And the rail: "Rails 24 kilograms per metre [48 lb/yard], sleepers 65 mm [2 1/2"] apart center to center."

Even with all the careful itemisation of requirements, however, the specs note that the railway "...had to cut down stack and cab to clear tunnels, as the company's profile was wrong. see letter James F Gregg, September 5, 1898." Even with these detail deficiencies, the "Americanos" soon justified Baldwin's claims and La Robla leased-then-bought eight more in 1900 and two more in 1917.

Granted that Spanish railway finances.often precluded replacement of poor performes, the Baldwins nonetheless enjoyed long careers before being eased out of service by diesels in 1962.

They were not unsuccessful, however, and La Robla came back to order another eight in 1900 that put a little more weight on the drivers (80,000 lb/36,287 kg); the increase brought total engine weight to 90,000 lb (40,823 kg). Their names were:Bilbao, La Robla, Zorroza, Montes Claros, Cistierna, Prado, Valmaseda, and La Ercina.

Possibly to replace two of the earlier engines or perhaps just because these engines filled the bill so well, La Robla came back to Baldwin seventeen years later for two more named Luis de Salazar and Zabalinchurreta. A little note in the 1917 spec reads: "Give every possible attention to these locomotives in order that they may be used as an example of our workmanship and finish."