251 electric

The engines of series 251 are specifically built for the line León - Gijon, one of hardest of the Spanish network. On the 172 kilometers of the course, one counts 350 curves with the extremely tight ray (about 300 to 350 meters), the whole with a practically continuous slope of 20 mm/m allowing to reach the collar of Pajares, in order to catch up with the 1021 meters of uneven separating the station from Ujo of the southern head of the tunnel of Perruca, located at 1270 meters of altitude. At the time of their exit, the engines of series 251 are most powerful of Spain and appear among most powerful of Europe, at the sides of the DC series 103 of dB (7200 kw), of the BBB series Re 6/6 of SBB/CFF (7400 kw), of the DC 6500 of the SNCF (5700 kw) and of the DC series E 666 of FS (5670 kw).

Design

Studied with the Japan, these machines derive directly from series EFF 66 of JNR. The case is of self-supporting type. The driving cabins slice by their innovative esthetics. They are equipped with origin of the air conditioning and a sound-proofing pushed with respect to the outside and of the engine room. The two frontal panes are armoured (16 mm thickness) and are equipped with de-icing resistances. Seats and desks are the subject of thorough ergonomic studies. The engine room is divided into five compartments. The two extremes shelter the auxiliary equipments, which also protect the engines. The lantern of roof is divided into five dismountable sections, which makes it possible to extract certain equipment for maintenance using cranes. The bogies are identical to those of the series 269.0, 279 and 289. The central bogie differs only by its secondary suspension, modified in order to facilitate turning circle. Electrical equipment is identical to that of the series 269.6, in other words these machines are equipped with an electronics component of power known as chopper . Each engine has its clean systême what makes it possible, in the event of breakdown, to only function on three engines. Compared to the 269.6, the frequency passes from 1200 to 1800 Hz. More, the auxiliary equipments require the installation of a second alternator. The equipment of brakes is identical to those of the series 269.6. Construction is shared between three firms:

251-001 and 251-002: Mitsubishi 1982
251-003 : CIF 1982
251-004: MACOSA n° 691/1983
251-005 and 006: CIF 1982
251-007 and 008: MACOSA n° 692 and 693/1983
251-009 and 010: CIF 1982
251-011 and 012: MACOSA n° 694 and 695/1983
251-013 to 016: CIF 1982
251-017 and 018: MACOSA n° 696 and 697/1983
251-019 to 022: CIF 1983
251-023 and 024: MACOSA n° 698 and 699/1983
251-025 to 028: CIF 1983
251-029: MACOSA n° 700/1984
251-030 CIF 1983

Outside, these machines raise one delivered dark blue and yellow. There exists a small difference between the machines manufactured with the Japan, whose side shutters are painted in blue, and those manufactured in Spain, whose shutters are gray clear.

Service

May 4th, 1982, the first two machines of the series arrive of the Japan aboard the cargo liner Sweet Flag and unload with Barcelona. After a short stay with the deposit of Put Antunez, they are sent to the factories CIF of Beasain for development. The first tests on line take place in July /aout in the Asturies, on the line of Pajares. They manage to tow goods trains of 1000 tons at the speed of 50 km/h., and passenger trains of 750 tons to 75 km/h in slope and 140 kmh in plain. All the series, of which the last unit is delivered on March 2nd, 1984, is assigned to the deposit of Oviède. They are principaleent used on the lines of León to Gijon and of León to Monforte de Lemos where they advantageously replace the double headings of 277 at the head of the goods trains. They also ensure of the passenger trains: the express train Costa Verde Gijon - Madrid on all its course, the Atlantico expreso El Ferrol - Madrid between Monforte and Madrid, the express train Barcelona - Galicia between Was windy of Baños and Monforte, and they divide the express train Gijon - Barcelona with the 269.6 between Gijon and Venta of Baños. At the time, they do not exceed the stations of Monforte and of Venta of Baños, where the changes traction take place.

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