309 diesel

At the end of the years 1970, the Renfe dream seriously to modernize its park of power trolleys of operations, of which the oldest units exceed the thirty years. Initially, a transformation partial of the series 303 is considered. The installation of a Bazan engine on the 303-015 gives satisfaction, but the machine elements and electric of the machine show their time. During 1982, the Renfe thus decides to buy new material and opens a contest for the supply of 50 mixed Diesel locos and operation, of a maximum power of 1100 horses, with three axles or bogies, the transmission being able to be hydraulic or electric. The national manufacturers are satisfied to present various models of foreign firms such as Mak, Krauss-Maffei, or Henschel. The MTM decides to go it alone and presents its type DH 700, a derivative of the DH 600 especially studied for the Renfe. In July 1983, the Renfe adopts the proposal of MTM and signs a contract for the supply of 20 power trolleys.

Design

The MTM had prepared its blow well, and planchait for a long time on such a project. It is into 1977 that the department of the projects decides to reactualize old studies of 1955 in order to be present on the market of the heavy power trolley of operations. The modifications to carry out are so important that one chooses finally the study of an entirely new model. That will lead to the development of several prototypes, able to ensure as well a service of operations as a service of line: types DH 200, DH 300 and DH 600. Type DH 2000, also studied, will not exceed the stage of the drawing board. The Renfe is interested already of close with the project, and carries out various tests of the DH 200 and DH 300 in the stations inhabitants of Barcelona of Sagrera and San Andrés Condal in 1980. Other tests will take place with prototype DH 600 in the same stations in 1983, whereas future series 309 is already in the course of construction. The engine Guascor E 310 TO which equips this prototype will not be finally retained. The first unit is delivered to Renfe in June 1985. It slices from the start with the remainder of the park of operations by its beautiful and coloured delivered " Estrella". The first tests show various imperfections which are corrected in factory from 309-404: reinforcement of the suspensions on the extreme axles, contracting of the width of the cabin which engaged the gauge, and poses equipment specific to reorque passenger trains. After correction of the various noted anomalies, the first unit arrives at Fuencarral on May 9th, 1986, after four days of voyage since Barcelona by its own means.

Service

At the end of 1986, eighteen units are already delivered and all assigned to the deposits inhabitants of Madrid of Fuencarral and Atocha. They ensure the operations and go up them oars travellers since sortings of Santa Catalina and Vicalvaro. From September 22nd to 28th 1986, the 309-005 is presented to the public during the exposure " Semana LED tren" with Madrid. After reception of the last units in May 1987, the series is distributed between the deposits of Fuencarral, Casa Antunez, Olaveaga, Santander, Irun, and Leon. Some transfers will take place then towards Barcelona - San Andrés Condal and Ollargan. The study of a possible transformation for the normal way, carried out in 1989, leads to a failure. on the other hand, in March 1990, the Renfe approved a project of installation of the radio control on certain units of series 309. Indicated to be used as prototype, the 309-003 is equipped by the MTM which also equips it with couplers type RK 900. The Renfe then plans to equip 10 units on this model. The constraints of the exploitation show the limits of the systême quickly, and only the 309-001 and 002 receives this equipment in 1992. The first radiations intervene rather early. The 309-011 and 017 is the object of fires of criminal origins to Pasajes and Renteria, which causes the reform of the 011 considered to be irrevocable. The 017 will be definitively reformed in 2000. About 2002, the 309-007 and 008 is sold at a private company which uses them since for the operation of the coal trains to the thermo plant of Andorra, in the province of Teruel.

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