Interregio train to Beja
Running long hood forward as the ALCo gods intended, Caminhos de Ferro Portugueses 1507 leads Interregio 893 to Beja short of its next stop Pinhal Novo. The RSC2 were geared for 120 kph (75 mph) and hit this mark routinely with these trains without a sweat.
Sitting in the first coach with windows open it's the same symphony at each stop. A short blant with the fog horn, then revving up the 12-251C engine (installed in the early 1970s), gargling like an old VW Beetle on steroids, then transition and the exhaust is going steady, yet cut in pieces by the head wind. Simultaneosuly the monotonous hum of the traction motors makes a crescendo until track speed is reached. It's still there when the engineer notches back. Only to subside when the train is coasting towards the next station.
I have fond memories of riding the fast trains behind the old ALCos.
In case you are familiar with the Green Bay & Western RS20 rebuilds, the Portuguese sound(ed) even better.
Interregio train to Beja
Running long hood forward as the ALCo gods intended, Caminhos de Ferro Portugueses 1507 leads Interregio 893 to Beja short of its next stop Pinhal Novo. The RSC2 were geared for 120 kph (75 mph) and hit this mark routinely with these trains without a sweat.
Sitting in the first coach with windows open it's the same symphony at each stop. A short blant with the fog horn, then revving up the 12-251C engine (installed in the early 1970s), gargling like an old VW Beetle on steroids, then transition and the exhaust is going steady, yet cut in pieces by the head wind. Simultaneosuly the monotonous hum of the traction motors makes a crescendo until track speed is reached. It's still there when the engineer notches back. Only to subside when the train is coasting towards the next station.
I have fond memories of riding the fast trains behind the old ALCos.
In case you are familiar with the Green Bay & Western RS20 rebuilds, the Portuguese sound(ed) even better.