Renfe Class 252

Class of Spanish electric locomotive

5 ft 5+21⁄32 in) gauge
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) gaugeWheelbase3.00 m (118.11 in),^[3]
bogie centre distance 10.50 m (34 ft 5.4 in)^[3]Length20.38 m (66 ft 10.4 in)
over buffers^[3]Width3.00 m (9 ft 10.11 in)^[3]Height4.3 m (14 ft 1.29 in)^[3]Loco weight90 tonnes (89 long tons; 99 short tons) (dual voltage)^[1]
86 tonnes (85 long tons; 95 short tons) single voltage^[1]Electric system/sCatenary
3 kV DC and 25 kV 50 Hz AC
Since 2010: 4 locomotives also 1.5 kV DC^[4]Current pickup(s)PantographTraction motors4 three phase TB 2824-OGA02 @ 1.438 MW (1,928 hp)Safety systemsASFA, LZB

Performance figures
Maximum speed	200 km/h (120 mph) commercial, 220 km/h (140 mph) approved 302 km/h (188 mph) in testing on the LAV Madrid - Sevilla
Power output	5,600 kW (7,500 hp)

The Renfe Class 252 are a series of Bo'Bo' electric locomotives, built by CAF, Meinfesa, Siemens and Krauss-Maffei for RENFE. 15 units were built for the AVE Madrid–Seville high speed line in (standard gauge version), and 60 units constructed for general use to Iberian gauge (1668mm).

Background, design, construction and history

The series of locomotives were ordered to modernise RENFE's fleet and to provide traction on the new standard gauge Madrid to Seville line, on Iberian gauge lines they were to replace RENFE Classes 276, 277 and 278 which were of some age, and incapable of speeds of 200 km/h;^[1] the order coincided with the construction of the first standard gauge high speed line in Spain, and was won in 1989 by a consortium of Swiss and German companies led by Siemens including Krauss-Maffei, Thyssen-Henschel and ABB.^[2]

The locomotives design was a development of that used in DB Class 120, which eventually led to the Siemen's EuroSprinter family of locomotives; of which the Class 252 can be considered a predecessor.^[1] The first 15 locomotives were built to 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) gauge in Germany, a further 60 locomotives were manufactured to 1,668 mm (5 ft 5+21⁄32 in) gauge by CAF and Meinfesa in Spain.^[2]

31 locomotives were dual voltage machines operating on 3 kV DC and 25 kV AC, the remaining 44 operated on 3 kV DC only. Subsequent to their introduction some of the locomotives have been re-bogied to both standard and Iberian gauge to meet operational requirements.^[2]

Locomotives built for the standard gauge high speed lines carried a white/grey 'AVE' livery, whilst the Iberian gauge machines were delivered in 'Taxi'/'Amarillo' (Yellow/Grey) livery, later some carried 'Arco' and 'Altaria' branding. In 2005 all locomotives became part of Renfe.^[2] These locomotives can be seen today throughout the Spanish territory of electrified railway lines.

In 1995, 252 054 was seriously damaged in an accident in El Paso Despeñaperros,^[5] being scrapped later in Villaverde Bajo. In 2003 252 062 was involved in an accident in Zuera and scrapped.^[6]

In 2010 four locomotives were modified for freight work on standard gauge lines from Barcelona to Le Soler (nr. Perpignan) in France. The vehicles were fitted with ERTMS compatible train safety devices, standard gauge bogies; they will also operated from 1.5 kV DC on some sections of the route.^[4]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Serie 252 www.wefer.com
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Renfe S/252: Introduction www.railcolor.net
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e RENFE 252 , top, side and front elevations via www.wefer.com
^ ^a ^b "Cuatro locomotoras 252 se transforman a ancho internacional". www.vialibre-ffe.com (in Spanish). Vía Libre.
^ Renfe S/252 252-054 www.railcolor.net
^ Renfe S/252 252-062 www.railcolor.net

External links

Complete Technical Data
Locomotives Reference List^{[permanent dead link]}, "High-Performance Universal Locomotive S 252", p. 22, www.transportation.siemens.com
Renfe Operadora - 252 List of individual units with service information, via www.listadotren.es

Images

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Renfe Class 252.

RENFE 252 at Trainspo High quality pictures of RENFE 252 via "trainspo.com"
252 Images of locomotives of class 252, via www.railwaymania.com
Spanish electric class 252 Images of class 252, via www.railfaneurope.net

Rolling stock of Renfe

Electric

High-speed trains	100 101 102 103 104 112 114 120 121 130 490
Mainline locomotives	250 251 252 253 269 276 277 278 279 289 299
Mainline EMUs	432 440 443 444 448 449 470
Commuter trains	430 431 433 434 435 436 439 440 440R 441 445 446 447 450 451 46* (Civia)
Narrow-gauge EMUs	433 435 436 438 442

Diesel

Mainline locomotives	313 314 316 318 319 319.2 319.3 319.4 321 333 334 340 350 352 353 354
Mainline and commuter trains	591 592 593 594 595 596 597 598 599
Narrow-gauge locomotives	315 316
Narrow-gauge DMUs and railcars	524 526 527 529
Shunters	301 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311

Steam

Mainline	030-2107 030-2128 to 2205 030-2107 030-2128 030-2206 030-2340 030-2537 040-2071 040-2091 040-2271 to 2285 (MZA) 062-0401 (andaluces) 140 141 151 180 230 230-4001 240-2001 (andaluces) 240-2081 282F 462-0401 553