Norte 2-8-2 Locomotives in Spain

Class 141-2001 (Locobase 3394)

Data from [], the web site of the Spanish National Railway. Alco works numbers were 56671-56685 and 58221-58260 in 1917.

See also Angel Maestro "50 anos de las Mikados Renfe", Lineas Del Tren (as reproduced on [], viewed 28 April 2003); Pere Comas and Alfred Puig, Breve Historia de la Traccion Vapor en Norte, Trensim TS10H001, Noviembre de 2010, pp. 18, 87.

Maestro explains that these Mikes came over because of severe power shortage after World War I and an inability of Spanish manufacturers to supply it.

[], a site describing railroad stamps, explains that this class of Alcos was acquired in two batches in 1917 and 1918. 4509 suffered a boiler explosion in 1942 and both 4541 and 4550 were destroyed during the Spanish Civil War of 1936-1939. All of the others were taken into RENFE in 1941.

The site further notes that the Alco Mikados are also known in Spain as "chalecos" (vests). The explanation: "In contrast to the great and spectacular railway masses of the "American" locomotives, these had a streamlined and "European" image : in the textile sense they did not have the category of "americanas" (jackets), but of vests, giving origin to this curious nickname."

( Note : In Castellano or Spanish language, "americana" is the name of the US reference, but also the name for a jacket ).

Lineas del Trenes' Maestro comments that although the Duque of Zaragoza, locomotive superintendent of the Norte and a friend of Chapelon's, thought compounds were superior to the simple, light American 2-8-2s, his mechanics across the line disagreed. "According to mechanics on lines as disparate as the Valencia-Castellon-Tarragona or the Monforte de Lemos-Lugo-a Corunna, or the Vigo-Ponteverda-La Corunna ...these machines had good acceleration, attacked the grades well, and at 70-80 km/h [43-50 mph] made up time." (Locobase translation).

In another Lineas Del Tren (#290, 5 May 2003) [Por que llegaron a Espana las 1-4-1 Mikados francesas? reproduced on [], accessed 7 Dec 2005], Mestro credits this class with handling 260 tonnes of fast freights over the El Escorial-La Canada line, which featured a ruling grade of 2.1%. 2.1%. On the flatter profile between Venta de Banos and Valladolid, they were rated at 480 tonnes.

After nearly 50 years of good service by this class, Renfe began withdrawing engines beginning in 1964. The last left the railway in 1967. Two were preserved: 2027 in Bilbao's Railway Museum, class leader 2001 in Cabra (Cordoba).