European Railroad Discussion > Fall Euro Trip Part 1 - Spain (mostly Madrid)

We had a recent trip to Europe for a family wedding in the Basque region of Spain, and I managed to squeeze in a few opportunities for some railfanning days.  We started with 10 days in Madrid, so most of my Spain shots are from the Madrid region.   

Spain’s passenger trains are now all completely EMUs, DMUs, or high speed train sets with power cars. The only loco-hauled trains I know of are a few regular excursion trains around Madrid, which I saw once on this trip.

1) We were staying near Principe Pio station, and I took the C-10 Cercanias (local) train from there to Torrelodones to check out a photo vantage point from a bridge I had seen on GoogleEarth.  Here's a C-10 train passing that point on its way to Villalba. 
2) Here's a C-8 train with double-deck stock heading into Madrid passing the same bridge.  
3) Next day, same line - here's a C-8 train coming into Villalba, heading into Madrid. 
 



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/06/25 06:43 by dwatry.

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4)  A C-8 train for Cercedilla pulling into Villalba. 
5)  A C-8 train of double-deck stock terminating at Villalba. 
6)  Excursions using vintage equipment are run around Madrid on a regular schedule.  Here's the vintage train "Tren de Felipe II", which runs to El Escorial.  Seen here running with an ALSA Class 269.  
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/06/25 06:40 by dwatry.

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7) C-4 train at Villaverde Bajo.  
8)  Talgo variable-gauge high speed set at Villaverde Bajo.
9)  Continental Rail intermodal train coming off the freight bypass around Madrid at Villaverde Bajo.  
 

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10) C-3 train at San Cristobal de Los Angeles.  
11)  C-3 train at the south end of Villaverde Bajo, in front of a dead line of electric locos.  
12)  Moving a couple hundred miles away - here's a variable-gauge AVLO trainset coming into Valladolid.  
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/05/25 22:43 by dwatry.

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13)  Class 253 TRAXX unit pulling a train of tank cars into Valladolid.  
14)  Double-headed Class 333 units coming into Valladolid.  
15)  Mid-Distance EMUs leaving Valladolid on a train to Medina del Campo.  
 

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16)  Mid-Distance EMU headed to Madrid from Burgos at Villodrigo - perhaps a Class 121?   That's a high-speed line in the background. 
17)  Heavily-graffitied Class 251 on a mixed freight at Pacorbo, headed for Irun.    These are licensed from Mitsubishi and look similar to some JR locos.  
 



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 11/05/25 22:54 by dwatry.

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Hey Duncan, awesome series, looks like you had a great trip.
Question - do you know what's being transported in those tanks which have a square frame around them?

Bob
nerrp.com

Thanks for the tour.  Gerry

Bob - sorry I don’t know what’s in those tanks. Maybe another TO member will know.

Posted from iPhone

bob01566 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hey Duncan, awesome series, looks like you had a
> great trip.
> Question - do you know what's being transported in
> those tanks which have a square frame around
> them?

Agreed these were a great series.

The tanks are usually called "ISO tanks" and can hold just about any bulk liquid. 

Waybiller Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> bob01566 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Hey Duncan, awesome series, looks like you had
> a
> > great trip.
> > Question - do you know what's being transported
> in
> > those tanks which have a square frame around
> > them?
>
> Agreed these were a great series.
>
> The tanks are usually called "ISO tanks" and can
> hold just about any bulk liquid. 

The square frame is so that they can be handled like a 20 FT container.

Very nice Duncan

Super set of photos.  Looks like a great trip in superb weather. Chris uk.

Pancorbo !  Now there's a name from the past, when both the station and the pass were destinations for steam fans, as evidenced by the great photos of, as examples, Brian Stephenson and M. J. Fox.
Now, the ammeter just goes up a smidge.....

Best, SZ

Edited to correct spelling error



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/14/25 04:59 by Steinzeit2.

SZ - the pass looks really interesting and scenic - I'll have to go back.  I was there at the end of the day and light was fading fast so did not stake out any positions.  
Duncan