The Big "P" last updated 11/05/2003

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1446+1458 run round the PTG Special at Guarda 26/04/2003

The Attraction of Portugal's Railways

The Portuguese Railway System (CP) currently has a wide selection of locomotive hauled trains, but the major attraction for the British enthusiast are the use of Class 20 and Class 50 Clones. Currently fleet serviceable total's stand at 59 Class 1400's (Class 20's) and 0 Class 1801's (Class 50's). Unfortunately at the time of writing the 1800's have now all been withdrawn. However the 1400's are widespread over the system and as many of half the fleet can perform on passenger diagrams on any 1 day. The railway system also has many other diesel and electric designs. The aim of this page will focus mainly on the 1400's with other classes getting a mention if noteworthy. To aid interest the Portuguese traction group run tours and charters over the entire CP system (including closed lines!), visit their Website at PTG.

LATEST 1400 ALLOCATIONS 11/05/2003

CL=Contumil (Porto) LC=Lisbon CB=Coimbra B BA=Barreiro  PO=Poceirao

Loco's in Brown denote Freight Sector

1407 has been scrapped.

Where do the 1400's work Passenger 11/05/2003

Algarve - Lagos-Faro 8 diagrams (From 1418/19/21/22/23/25/27/32/34/55/59)

Lisbon - Barreiro Commuter trains are now all units. The Algarve Overnights and the Funcheira turns 

          are now booked for Class 1400's. 

Lisbon2 - Lisbon SA - Figueira Da Foz 5 diagrams (From 1411/12/16/28/29/31/35)

Porto - Porto-Pochino/5 diagrams From (1404/5/6/8/10/13/15/24/53(13/24 pilots only))+

UTML Turn Sat/Sun/Bank Hols 1235 PSB-Pocinho(36/37/38/40/42/45/47/48/49)

Entroncamento - Entroncamento-Badajoz 2 diagrams (1409/14/17)

Approx 20 diagrams per weekday.(30 Passenger Engines)

Latest Loco Information

Summary of interesting gen found on the net and close sources

Sunday 11th May 2003 1446+1458 worked the PTG tour on the 26/04/2003 from Abrantes-Guarda-Vilar Formoso-Coimbra, Tour ran to time and was one not to miss. 1456 & 1450 were noted at Vilar Formoso. 25-27th April saw 1449 on the 1235 PSB-POC and 1938 return. 1964+1964 worked the PTG rail day on the 26th to and from Regua. 1555 was also involved. I noted on the Douro over the weekend 1405/6/8/15/53( also saw the pilots 13/24)

Wednesday 1st January 2003 1401 has been withdrawn, 1400 Douro services now heavily reduced, PTG have managed to secure 1800 haulage for the future.

Wednesday 12th June 2002 Not much to report, the Badajoz line sees occasional 1400 usage, the Figgy Line sees the odd freight 1400 working. Things seem to be quiet on the PTG front - will the demise of the 1800's see the demise of the group?

Tuesday 12th March 2002 Just a quick update since 14/10/01. Firstly all the Class 1800's have been stored.  All appear to be at Barriero with the exception of 1805 which is to be a Museum loco. They may return to service but this looks unlikely as Class 1400's have taken their diagrams over. The Class 1400 situation hasn't changed much, 1444 which was thought to be withdrawn has returned to service and 1407 has been recovered from the Douro (fots anybody?) The UTML turn out of Porto seems to have ceased. Other than that the only other change is that the EURO is the recognised currency of Portugal.

Sunday 14th October 2001 I have recently returned from the Big P, To see my moves click here. Highlight of the trip was dropping onto 1808 on the 1741 Faro-Barreiro. This loco has worked the IR871/872 virtually solidly since the 24th Sept!!.

February 18 2001 I was in Portugal the week commencing 28/01/2001 for the PTG tour "Covila Thriller". This tour used 1805/1446/1559 - however 1446 was only used to shunt the stock onto 1559 for the Class 1400 section (1446 was declared a failure). Other highlights of the week were 1421/22 in multiple on the Friday Barriero-Faro Overnight. 1432+1419 on the 0747 Tunes-Lagos the following day, 1445 and 1449 working shuttles between Regua and Pochino. Around Porto 1451/48 worked the 1755. The Figgy line saw 4 diagrams hauled most days, the day I covered them 1465 and 1452 were sharing the diagrams with the regulars. A list of my moves will shortly be available.

January 6 2001 The past couple of months has seen 1801 officially stored and marked as an exhibit for Entroncamento. 1407 was hit by a boulder on the Douro line and knocked into the river , where she still lies. 1400's are rumoured to be taking over the Class 1501/21 diagrams including the Algarve overnights (using pairs?!!!). The PTG have several tours lined up including a rail day at Entroncamento.

November 12 2000 Next weekend (19/11/2000) should see 1802 on the 0753Barreiro-Vila Real and 1615 return, This is a fix by the PTG lads. They have requested that a First Class Return is Purchased instead of a Rover for the trip (I think a 1st class return is about £20). See more details click Here.

October 31 2000 I have recently returned from the Big P, To see my moves click here. The First Class All line rover Bilhete Turistico is currently 18500 escudos. Other info gleamed from the week was that the 0741 Barriero-Pinhal Novo+Rtn and 1741 Barriero-Pinhal Novo+Rtn were vice unit, cover these if you have the opportunity. 1806 was seen on Barreiro shed ex-works.

September 26 2000 See below for last weeks moves in the Big P.

September 19 2000 The current state of play has seen several 1800's performing out of Barreiro, this was caused by a shortage of 1500/1930 machines. Also of note 1801 has been stored with possibly 1806 to join it. CP intend to remove the 1200/1500/1800 machines from traffic if they suffer any major/costly failures. What will replace them is anybody's guess.

June 6 2000 Hot off the press - 1422/23/26/27/32 working on the Algarve.  The crash damaged 1947 is now back in traffic - noted ex works at Barreiro. 1505 worked the overnight. More info to come as soon as I get it.

May 2000 Not much change in the Big P apart from that there is an extra temporary diagram on the Figgy De Foz line to cover for DMU refurbishment. To allow this  1436/37/38/40 have been transferred to the passenger sector. This should last till around August time.

November 1999 Following a recent visit by some friends, Portugal remains unchanged, Still plenty of 1400's about, no 1800's on passenger, Blue train running every day, college train has yet to start. 1500's still on the Algarve expresses. Ticket is still just over the £60 mark. Strikes are not affecting train services. Nick Awbery who has just returned has informed me that some of the Lisbon-Porto trains are now Pendolino's.