Chinchilla junction :: Fotopic.Net

Chinchilla junction

28th August 2007

I went to Chinchilla on the offchance of photographing a class 354 Talgo diesel if any were still running and to photograph the replacement class 334, as well as the new 333.4s which were reported working all freight services on the line to Murcia. In addition, it would also be possible to photograph trains on the Alacant and Valencia lines. Much of the line between Albacete and Almansa has been realigned and this includes the stretch south of Chinchilla, where a new station and junction have been built. On the plus side I saw not one but two class 354 diesels operating in addition to two class 334s. On the minus side there was no freight traffic on the Murcia line at all and only two were seen on the main line, although one was effectively a quadruple-header, having a twin-unit and twi single-unit class 269s.

The Talgo trains to/from Alacant were hauled by class 252 or 269 electrics. 800x571 252_014-6_Talgo_P8281361.jpg	800x571 252_035-1_Talgo_P8281343.jpg	800x571 252_035-1_Talgo_P8281344.jpg	One of the few named trains, the "Garcia Lorca", from Malaga to Barcelona, this was formed of 12 coaches.. 800x573 252_045-0_Arco_P8281365.jpg
800x571 252_045-0_Arco_P8281367.jpg	800x571 252_045-0_Arco_P8281368.jpg	The Barcelona - Malaga "Garcia Lorca" was formed of 9 coaches. 800x571 252_065-8_Arco_P8281339.jpg	800x571 252_065-8_Arco_P8281340.jpg
The first of only two freights seen on this day. 800x571 269_092-3_freight_P8281328.jpg	Class 269.4 were seen working from Alacant to Madrid 800x571 269_401-6_Talgo_P8281338.jpg	800x571 269_417-2_Talgo_P8281313.jpg	800x571 269_417-2_Talgo_P8281315.jpg
Apologies for letting the fence get in the way - I was driving along the track south of the junction when I saw this train appear so stopped the car, jumped out and took these photos. Not a good spot as the new fence is too high. 800x570 269_857AB_206_298_fr_P8281334.jpg	Confusingly, two locos appear to be carrying the same number but this is actually a twin unit. 800x571 269_857AB_freight_P8281331.jpg	The two up Talgo's from Murcia were headed by new class 334 locomotives. 800x571 334_004-9_Talgo_P8281306.jpg	800x571 334_004-9_Talgo_P8281307.jpg
800x571 334_004-9_Talgo_P8281308.jpg	For those who are interested that is my car in the foreground. 800x571 334_009-8_Talgo_P8281345.jpg	800x571 334_009-8_Talgo_P8281346.jpg	800x571 334_009-8_Talgo_P8281349.jpg
The second down Talgo to Murcia also had a class 354 in charge. 800x571 354_001-0_Talgo_P8281350.jpg	This one is named "Virgen de Covadonga". 800x571 354_001-0_Talgo_P8281352.jpg	800x571 354_001-0_Talgo_P8281354.jpg	800x571 354_001-0_Talgo_P8281357.jpg
I hadn't been there long when the first class 354 arrived and slowed down to take the Murcia line. 800x571 354_006-9_Talgo_P8281319.jpg	800x571 354_006-9_Talgo_P8281320.jpg	800x571 354_006-9_Talgo_P8281321.jpg	The name is "Virgen de Aranzazu". 800x571 354_006-9_Talgo_P8281322.jpg
Having left the main line the Talgo diesel is opened up in a cloud of smoky exhaust! 400x300 354_006-9_Talgo_P8281327.jpg	This class 440 EMU is heading for Alacant. 800x571 440_135C_Regio_P8281317.jpg