Trackside photography of the Portuguese and European railway
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TRAINOGRAPHY by João Cunha
The colours of the Pajares ramp in 2014
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The colours of the Pajares ramp in 2014

11 Jun 2014 · 13 Jun 2014 · 11 photographs

Before Renfe Mercancias started standardising traction on freight trains out of Xixón, the Pajares ramp was a line that combined the awesome scenery of the cantabrian mountains with the beautiful noise and shape of the Mitsubishi-built locos, specially the eternal 251 series. Let's go back in time!

Day 1

Having started earlier in the Arcelor Mittal private network between their factories of Gijon and Avilés, we arrived in the Pajares ramp in the afternoon just on time to see the first Mitsubishi's operating, after a brief sightseeing in the Viella branch that is used by freight trains to avoid Oviedo

In the Viella bypass, 251.011 hauls coal train 81774/5 from Aboño to Ponferrada 1
In the Viella bypass, 251.011 hauls coal train 81774/5 from Aboño to Ponferrada
Renfe 251.021 in yellow livery is back from Busdongo and heading towards the Lugo de Llanera depot 2
Renfe 251.021 in yellow livery is back from Busdongo and heading towards the Lugo de Llanera depot
Renfe 289.104 is hauling a full coils train to Irun, near Casorvida 3
Renfe 289.104 is hauling a full coils train to Irun, near Casorvida

Day 2

A typical day in the ramp yielded more than 20 freighters and a handful of passenger trains. Those were the days ...

In the narrow station of Linares-Congostinas, freshly painted 251.005 descends an empty train to Trasona 4
In the narrow station of Linares-Congostinas, freshly painted 251.005 descends an empty train to Trasona
A 121 train leads the Alvia 661 from Gijon to Barcelona Sants, entering Puente de los Fierros 5
A 121 train leads the Alvia 661 from Gijon to Barcelona Sants, entering Puente de los Fierros
Patito 130.087/088 runs the Alvia 4100 from Gijon to Alicante, seen here at Navidiello 6
Patito 130.087/088 runs the Alvia 4100 from Gijon to Alicante, seen here at Navidiello
Half coils train to Busdongo, where this convoy will be gathered with a similar 950-ton train before continuing to Sagunt. 7
Half coils train to Busdongo, where this convoy will be gathered with a similar 950-ton train before continuing to Sagunt.
Lack of electric locomotives motivated that the timber trains from San Juan de la Nieva were often assured with diesels, like here with 333.307 + 333.327 8
Lack of electric locomotives motivated that the timber trains from San Juan de la Nieva were often assured with diesels, like here with 333.307 + 333.327
The 2000+ ton steel train 82244/5 from Trasona to Sagunto passes by Villanueva de la Tercia with Renfe 251.005 9
The 2000+ ton steel train 82244/5 from Trasona to Sagunto passes by Villanueva de la Tercia with Renfe 251.005

Day 3

On the last day we kept exploring the Leonese part of the ramp

130037.jpg 10
130037.jpg
Mitsubishi 251.013 arriving to Busdongo with a short train from Arevalo to the port of Gijon 11
Mitsubishi 251.013 arriving to Busdongo with a short train from Arevalo to the port of Gijon

Lines travelled

León - Gijón (Pajares) ADIF
Ramal de Viella ADIF