Madrid, Zaragoza & Alicante 4-8-4 Locomotives in Spain

Class 242-0231 - 1601 (Locobase 3341)

Data from [], the web site of the Spanish National Railway. pp. 67. Works numbers were 154-178 in 1924

The only difference between this first group and the later group of 35 (Locobase 3342) seems to have been axle loading.

Pere Comas, whose Paleontologia Vaporosa posts on the family tree of Spanish 4-8-0s are referenced in Locobase 3382, identifies this species of ferro-equine dinosaur (if such a beast is possible) as "Cercanius Maquinensis". Clearly a bigger brother of the "Cercanius Maffeirensis" 4-6-4T (see Locobase 3365), this design borrowed many of its components from the "Mastodontus Ibericus" species of 4-8-0s (Locobase 3384). Its service area was local or suburban traffic.

NB: RENFE's 1947 diagram shows the exterior diameter of the 185 small tubes and 24 large tubes, but gives the following heating surface areas based on the tubes' interior diameters: tubes and flues , 178.0 sq m (1,915 sq ft) and, including firebox area, 192.0 sq m (2,067 sq ft).

Class 242-0256 (Locobase 3342)

Data from [], the web site of the Spanish National Railway. Works numbers were 220-244 in 1926, 325-334 in 1927.

This batch of 35 large tank engines apparently differed from an earlier group of 25 (Locobase 3341) only in a lower axle loading.

Pere Comas, whose Paleontologia Vaporosa posts on the family tree of Spanish 4-8-0s are referenced in Locobase 3382, identifies these as "Cercanius Maquinensis Tanquirectus", in recognition of the uncompromising rectilinearity of their tanks ("totalmente rectos y encuadrandose"). The 1651-1660 were delivered with Dabeg preheaters.

NB: RENFE's 1947 diagram shows the exterior diameter of the 185 small tubes and 24 large tubes, but gives the following heating surface areas based on the tubes' interior diameters: tubes and flues , 178.0 sq m (1,915 sq ft) and, including firebox area, 192.0 sq m (2,067 sq ft).