RENFE Class 352

The RENFE Class 352 (formerly the T-2000) was a class of twin engined four axle diesel-hydraulic locomotives built by Krauss-Maffei, designed solely for passenger traffic; in particular they were responsible for towing Andalusian Talgo III trains. The class were very successful, heralding a new era of passenger trains in Spain. They were delivered in 1964 and 1965, and were fully withdrawn during the 1990s.

RENFE Class 352
2000-T
RENFE 352 009
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-hydraulic
DesignerKrauss-Maffei[1]
BuilderKrauss-Maffei[1]
Babcock & Wilcox[1] (under license)
Serial numberoriginally 2001 T to 2010 T
later 352-001 to 352-010
Build date1964/5
Total produced10[1]
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • UICB'B'[1]
Gauge1,668 mm (5 ft 5 21⁄32 in)[2]
Length17.45 m (57 ft 3 in)[1]
Width3.2 m (10 ft 6 in)[2]
Height3.29 m (10 ft 10 in)[2]
Loco weight74 t (73 long tons; 82 short tons)[2]
Fuel capacity3,600 L (790 imp gal; 950 US gal)[2]
Prime mover2 Maybach MD 650 1B[3]
TransmissionHydraulic 2 Maybach K 104 U[3]
MU workingNo
Safety systemsASFA[2]
Performance figures
Maximum speed140 km/h (87 mph)[1]
160 km/h (99 mph) (allowed in 1986)[1] 230 km/h (140 mph) (testing)
Power output2,400 hp (1,800 kW) (2 x 1,200 hp (890 kW)[2])
Career
OperatorsRENFE
LocaleSpain

Background and design
Cabless rear end of a Class 352 (right) in 'taxi' livery, coupled to a Talgo unit (left)

With the Talgo II coaches having proved successful, and a new class of coaches—the Talgo III being introduced in the early 1960s—a new type of express locomotive was required to pull them. On 28 May 1962, the Board of Directors of RENFE placed an order for the locomotives needed, and the 2000-T series is born.

Unlike the fixed formation Talgo II trains, the Talgo III was to have a locomotive which was separable from the coaches. Five locomotives were initially built by Krauss-Maffei, who gave the locomotives the internal designation ML 2400; in Spain they are placed in the class 2000-T. The Krauss-Maffei design is chosen since no other manufacturer offers similar power in the reduced height, and low centre of gravity that matches the Talgo trainsets, the internal design is very similar to the DB Class V 200.0 with the same engine and hydraulic drive, and similar bogies, though the exterior, and gauge are totally different.[3] A further five locomotives were then built by Babcock & Wilcox under license.

Being designed solely in order to pull Talgo III trains they have only one cab, an automatic Scharfenberg coupler, buffers specially adapted, and the necessary auxiliary power supply equipment. Each locomotive has two engines, each with its own transmission[4] The two twelve cylinder engines each developed 1,200 horsepower (890 kW) and initially travelled at a maximum speed of 140 kilometres per hour (87 mph), a high speed for the time. In 1986 the maximum line speed limit was increased by RENFE to 160 km/h (99 mph).

Upon delivery of the 2000 T the trains are tested using wagons from Transfesa, which were available at the time. AT delivery and decommissioning they carried a red and silver livery,[5] like all locomotives for the Talgo service, they are given names.

Initially the locomotives had a 'wrap around' windscreen, in the 1980s they were refurbished with the windscreen replaced as part of a cab upgrade and air condition was fitted on the roof at the same time.[3]

Operations
Class 352 in 'taxi' livery, the box on the roof is the air conditioning. The locomotive carries both the numbers 352-003 and 2003T

Upon delivery, all were assigned to Aravaca.

The first arrivals were assigned to Talgo services from Barcelona to Madrid from 20 August 1964. Hendaye, Bilbao and Seville are also destinations served, at the time they are the fastest machines of the Spanish Railways: On June 7, 1966, 2005T reached a speed of 230 km/h (140 mph) between Sevilla and Los Rosales.

Electrification, and the introduction in the 1970s of the Japanese RENFE Class 269 displaced the locomotives onto non electrified lines. From then on Class 352 are used on non-electrified lines such as Badajoz - Lisbon, Granada - Almeria, Murcia - Cartagena.

In 1980 352-004 is altered in order to tow the new Talgo pendular trains; working between Zaragoza and Madrid from June 1980. Later on it is used on Talgo pendular trains between Madrid and Cartagena.

Between September 1995 to April 1996, 352-004 is used on the Talgo pendular Madrid - Cartagena replacing the damaged 354-008.

The locomotives started to be decommissioned at the turn of the century - with machines requiring major work being removed rather than repaired. In time the last of the class to cease work was 312-001 (which was also the first delivered) was withdrawn in 2002 having given 38 years of service with over 7 million kilometers travelled.

Names and fleet details
Original number UIC number Name[6] Constructer constructor number Year Withdrawn Kilometers worked
2001 T 352-001-2 "Virgen del Rosario" Krauss-Maffei 19094 1964 22/04/2002 7443836
2002 T 352-002-0 "Virgen Peregrina" 19095 1964 27/04/1993 5416678
2003 T 352-003-8 "Virgen del Perpetuo Socorro" 19096 1964 8/06/2001 7253459
2004 T 352-004-6 "Virgen del Camino" 19097 1964 21/12/1997 6262292
2005 T 352-005-3 "Virgen del Carmen" 19098 1964 28/06/1998 6873765
2006 T 352-006-1 "Virgen Santa Maria" Babcock & Wilcox 888 1965 9/07/1999 6846166
2007 T 352-007-9 "Virgen de la Almudena" 889 1965 27/02/1993 5543765
2008 T 352-008-7 "Virgen de la Soledad" 890 1965 19/05/2002 7144582
2009 T 352-009-5 "Virgen de Gracia" 891 1965 20/05/2002 7405093
2010 T 352-010-3 "Virgen de los Reyes" 892 1965 23/10/1994 5948783

After withdrawal

352-009 is preserved under the National Museum of the railways.

The front cabin of 352-005 is on display at the railway museum Museu del Ferrocarril of Vilanova, whilst the front of 352-001 was given to the railway museum of Arganda. The control panel of one Class 352 is also kept in the museum of Délicias.

See also

References
  1. HIDROMECHANIC DIESEL LOCOMOTIVES SERIE 352 cuerpo8.es
  2. Serie 352 Talgo (2000T) Class 352 Talgo (2000T) wefer.com
  3. Maybach engines in Spain brinternet.com
  4. Because of the dual engine design the eternal problem of these machines is cracks the head gaskets - due to stresses between the two engines
  5. In the 1990s two were painted briefly in RENFE's 'taxi' livery - yellow and dark blue/grey
  6. Renfe - Fuera de servicio - 352 www.listadotren.es

Literature
  • Casas Juan Carlos : Locomotoras diesel 352 y 353. in Via Libre n° 483, 02/2005
  • Salmeron i Bosch, Carles : Las locomotoras de España. Editorial Terminus, Barcelona, 1985
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