Spanish spotting

[renfespotter]

Hi I have just joined the forum and as you may have gathered by my log in name I am interested in Spanish trains. May I reccomend to forum members the rail museum at Vilanova i la Geltru.
Steam (25) Electric (4) Diesel (4) during my visit in 10/08
It is easy to reach from Barcelona by direct suburban electric trains from Barcelona Estacio Sants (about 40 mins) Some tains are double deck class 451. Museum is just a few yards from the station in Vilanova.
Barcelona has many spotting opportunities with its trams, TMB and FCG metros, funiculars. Tarragona to the south and Martorell in the suburbs are good for passing freights. A few locos can usually be picked off with binos from Montjuic Castle that can be reached by funicular (from Paral-lel TMB station) and then cable car. the view from Montjuic Castle is stunning (especially if you like ships). I have also visited Valencia.
look forward to exchanging notes through this forum thread.

 

[D9521]

http://dan.ukgrrls.co.uk/c1584066.html

 

[renfespotter]

Part of the line up of steam locomotives at Vilanova 10/08

 

[Jordy]

Don't often hear much about the Spanish railways so feel free to share your stories and pictures, would be interesting

 

[renfespotter]

Don't often hear much about the Spanish railways so feel free to share your stories and pictures, would be interesting

Thanks for that I'll draft a few notes. Thanks for your interest.
Thanks also to D9521 for the photos.

 

[will1337]

Lovely pictures. The only Spanish line I've done is the Barcelona to Blanes line holidaying in Calella a few times but it was hugged the coast very closely nearly the whole way and was rather lovely with the occasional rock formations going over the line a little like the Dawlish Sea Wall. If I get to go back to Barcelona I'll definitely have to visit that railway museum and also do the high speed line to Madrid.

 

[D9521]

My photo's of the renfe hst are taken at cartegena and they run to madrid from there its a lovely city well worth a visit i was lucky to get those shots though because the driver pulled me and told me photography is banned

 

[33056]

Railway photography is not banned in Spain! There was a permit that you could apply for but, apparently, even that is no longer required; though it does not stop some security guards having a rant.

Regarding museums, I can recommend the excellent collections at the Basque Railway museum in Azpeitia and the Asturias Railway museum in Gijón , some pictures can be seen in this collection .

An excellent site for gen on all aspects of Spain's Railways is at Listadotren .

 

[renfespotter]

One nice trip in Barcelona is to take the TMB Metro Line 5 to Diagonal. Here change to the FCG line 7 to the Av Tibidabo. across the road from the station is the lower terminus of the vintage Blue Tram route (weekends and special holidays only).
The line winds up hill (depot on a branch half way up the hill).
At the upper terminus is the Tibidabo Funicular well worth a trip for the views from the summit (Church and theme park here).
Near the Blue Tram depot is a small preserved submarine: (Tiburon Class SA-51 78 tons Built 1957)

Tibidabo Funicular

Tibidabo Lower Station

 

[class47]

When I was in Barcelona last year, there was a man on one of the stations telling everyone with a camera, even tourists, that no photography was
allowed.

 

[renfespotter]

Had a similar experience in Valencia. A policeman made me remove 5 digital pics off my camera I had taken on the platform but allowed me to keep two I had taken through the fence from outside the station.