The RENFE Class 309 is a class of 20 three axle diesel hydraulic shunters built by M.T.M. for RENFE

RENFE

Renfe Operadora is the state-owned company which operates freight and passenger trains on the 1668-mm "Iberian gauge" and 1435-mm "European gauge" networks of the Spanish national railway infrastructure company ADIF .- History :The name RENFE is derived from that of the former Spanish National...

, and introduced between 1986-7.

History and design

In the late 1970s RENFE began planning to modernise its shunting locomotives; initially modernisation of the RENFE 303 with new engines was considered and one locomotive converted, but the experiment was not carried forward. In 1982 RENFE opened bidding for a contract for 50 locomotives of up to 1100hp. M.T.M. (Maquinista Terrestre y Marítima) offered its own development, and was successful: in July 1983 RENFE placed an order for 20 units.
The first units were delivered in the red-brown/yellow/white estrella livery in 1985 and were accepted into service in 1986 after correction of technical problems.

Initially the property of RENFE, after the creation of Adif

Adif

Adif, an acronym of Administrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias, is a Spanish state-owned company under the responsibility of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, charged with the management of most of Spain's railway infrastructure, that is the track, signalling and stations...

 the locomotives were divided between Mercancías (formerly Cargas freight) and Adif

Adif

Adif, an acronym of Administrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias, is a Spanish state-owned company under the responsibility of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, charged with the management of most of Spain's railway infrastructure, that is the track, signalling and stations...

(infrastructure services). As of 2010 about half have been painted in a red and grey livery.

External links

• RENFE 309, image collection via www.flickr.com