Lorca a Baza y Aguilas Kitson-Meyer Locomotives in Spain

Class 180-0401 (Locobase 3263)

Data from Gustav Reder (Michael Reynolds, trans), The world of steam locomotives (New York: Putnam, 1974); and [] . See also Justo Arenillas in "La material ingles en las pequenas companias", Lineas Del Tren (as reproduced on [], viewed 28 April 2003).

One of the peculiarities of the Kitson-Meyer type of engine was the provision of a second stack behind the cab to exhaust the rear set of cylinders. This variant had the cylinders at the extreme ends of the locomotive (i.e., the front set led the front drivers, the rear set trailed the rear drivers). Note the single-ended nature of their layout: only the front engine unit had a leading truck.

These engines operated on the GS's CFLAyB (Compania de Ferrocarriles de Lorca a Baza y Aguilas) climbing 2% grades to haul empty coal cars from the port of Aguilas to the mines near Almendricos. Their tonnage ratings at 8-10 mph were as follows:

level track 3,584 tonnes (2,205 lb)

1% 865

1 1/4% 677

2% 456

4% 198

Babcock & Wilcox of Spain rebuilt these engines later and they entered RENFE service as class 180 (0401-0403) in 1941. Retirement came in 1953.