British-built 141F 2111 looks good at Oural, Spain, on Oct. 10, 2003, but Schenectady, N.Y.,-built FD7 No. 1812 is pushing on the rear.
J.W. Swanberg
Renfe Alco FD7 No. 1808 at Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain, is intact, but lacking a prime mover and a main generator on Oct. 11, 2003.
J.W. Swanberg
Another Renfe Alco FD7 is dilapidated in Galicia, Spain. The 318-021 (ex-1821) at Monforte de Lemos on Oct. 12, 2003, is merely a shell. However, its sister No. 1801 is preserved in a Barcelona, Spain, museum.
J.W. Swanberg
Swanberg encountered yet another Alco on his trip. FD9 No. 321.030 in maintenance of way service at Curtis, Spain, on Oct. 10, 2003, has control positions at both ends, but no nose at all.
J.W. Swanberg
Author and photographer J.W. Swanberg rode a series of steam-hauled excursions in Spain. One of the excursions turned into a story for Trains January 2010 issue’s “Railroading Reading.” Swanberg relates a tale of how an American diesel rescues an ailing British 2-8-2 in October 2003. Alco FD7 No. 1812, a “World” locomotive, built in 1958 in Schenectady, N.Y., pushes British-built 2-8-2 No. 2111 through most of his trip, which upsets his primarily British fellow passengers. He also encountered other locomotives along his trip, including FD9s. For the whole story “The U.S. Finally Wins the War of 1812,” pick up the January 2010 magazine, which hits newsstands on Dec. 8, 2009!
