RENFE Class 340
Encyclopedia
The Class 340 of Renfe
(4000 under the previous numbering scheme) were a class of 4 axle diesel hydraulic locomotives built by Krauss-Maffei
(and Babcock & Wilcox
) for the Spanish Railways. The design is similar in outward appearance and technology to the DB Class V 200
. 32 units were built.
/Mercedes Benz MD870) diesel engine. Hydraulic transmissions used were two Mekydro K184.
The contract consisted of a series of 32 units which were shipped between 1966 and 1969, ten manufactured in Germany by Krauss-Maffei and the remaining twenty-two manufactured Spain by Babcock & Wilcox. The locomotives were similar to the V 200.1 Series of the Deutsche Bundesbahn, but with more power, more weight and a slightly larger logitud.
The units were conceived as locomotives for passenger services, with a maximum speed of 130 km/h but then were also used for freight trains which together with inadequate maintenance led to many failures in this series.
None are currently in service and 30 of the 32 units have been scrapped, the 4020 (RENFE 340 020) is in the Museo del Ferrocarril de Madrid and the 4026 (RENFE 340 026) is in the process of being restored by the AZAFT (Asociación Zaragozana de Amigos del Ferrocarril y Tranvías).
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...
(4000 under the previous numbering scheme) were a class of 4 axle diesel hydraulic locomotives built by Krauss-Maffei
Krauss-Maffei
The Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH & Co KG or simply Krauss-Maffei is an injection molding machine manufacturer and defence company based in Munich, Germany...
(and Babcock & Wilcox
Babcock and Wilcox
The Babcock & Wilcox Company is a U.S.-based company that provides design, engineering, manufacturing, construction and facilities management services to nuclear, renewable, fossil power, industrial and government customers worldwide. B&W's boilers supply more than 300,000 megawatts of installed...
) for the Spanish Railways. The design is similar in outward appearance and technology to the DB Class V 200
DB class V 200
DB Class V 200.0 was one of the first diesel-hydraulic express locomotives of the German Deutsche Bundesbahn and - as Am 4/4 - of the SBB-CFF-FFS in Switzerland.-DB Service:...
. 32 units were built.
Background and History
The locomotives had a total power of 4,000 hp from 2 motors (each a 16-cylinder MaybachMaybach
Maybach-Motorenbau GmbH is a German luxury car manufacturer. It was founded in 1909 by Wilhelm Maybach and his son. The company was originally a subsidiary of Luftschiffbau Zeppelin GmbH and was itself known as Luftfahrzeug-Motorenbau GmbH until 1912.Today, the ultra-luxury car brand is owned by...
/Mercedes Benz MD870) diesel engine. Hydraulic transmissions used were two Mekydro K184.
The contract consisted of a series of 32 units which were shipped between 1966 and 1969, ten manufactured in Germany by Krauss-Maffei and the remaining twenty-two manufactured Spain by Babcock & Wilcox. The locomotives were similar to the V 200.1 Series of the Deutsche Bundesbahn, but with more power, more weight and a slightly larger logitud.
The units were conceived as locomotives for passenger services, with a maximum speed of 130 km/h but then were also used for freight trains which together with inadequate maintenance led to many failures in this series.
None are currently in service and 30 of the 32 units have been scrapped, the 4020 (RENFE 340 020) is in the Museo del Ferrocarril de Madrid and the 4026 (RENFE 340 026) is in the process of being restored by the AZAFT (Asociación Zaragozana de Amigos del Ferrocarril y Tranvías).
Further reading
- RENFE 340 LA TRACCION DIESEL ,ISBN / EAN: 9788495493149, ISBN 8495493144, Author(s): Josep Miquel & Eduard Ramirez
External links
- Museo del Ferrocarril de Madrid Spanish national rail museum website
- Photographs of the Class 340 fototrenes.tranvia.org
- Images of Class 340 from railfaneurope.net
- List of class 340 locomotives www.listadotren.es