Renfe Class 311
| Company type | Diesel-electric locomotive |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Founded | 1985 (prototype) |
| Headquarters | Spain |
| Products | Diesel-electric locomotives |
Number of employees | 61 units built |
The Renfe Class 311 comprises a fleet of four-axle Bo'Bo' diesel-electric locomotives engineered mainly for shunting duties and light freight transport within Spain. The prototype model (311.0) was created in 1985 through a collaboration involving M.T.M., Ateinsa, and Babcock & Wilcox. Subsequently, the primary production batch (311.1) was built from 1989 to 1991 by Alstom's Meinfesa, Siemens, and Bazán.
In total, 61 units were manufactured, each powered by MTU Friedrichshafen engines generating 1065 horsepower and capable of reaching speeds up to 90 km/h. These locomotives have an approximate weight of 80 tons and run on the Iberian track gauge of 1668 mm. Production variants are fitted with both pneumatic and rheostatic braking systems, making the Class 311 a flexible component of Renfe’s freight and shunting operations, offering an effective balance between power output and operational efficiency for regional rail services.
Background and design
The initial prototype 311.001 was developed under the guidance of the Instituto Nacional de Industria by M.T.M. (Barcelona), Ateinsa (Madrid), and Babcock & Wilcox (Bilbao).
Following this, an order was placed for 60 locomotives classified as subclass 311.1, with fleet numbers ranging from 311.101 to 311.160.
The propulsion system incorporates four axle-mounted, pinion-driven three-phase asynchronous motors energized by a three-phase alternator linked to an MTU engine, partially produced under license by Bazán. The locomotives utilize Siemens’ Sibas-16 microprocessor systems for engine management.
While the prototype featured an orange body with a white stripe, production units adopted Renfe’s standard red and silver color scheme typical for shunting locomotives; over time, some have been repainted in Renfe’s white and grey livery. By 2010, the majority of these machines were operated by Renfe Mercancías, with approximately one-third assigned to infrastructure operator Adif.
Derivatives
The design’s success within the Spanish engineering sector prompted several export versions manufactured at the Meinfesa facility: including the SBB Am 841 (40 units produced in 1994), the GA DE900 locomotives supplied to Mexico, Israel, and Egypt (35 units built between 1997 and 2000), and the SNCF Class BB 60000 series (175 units constructed from 2004 to 2008).
See also
- Renfe Class 309 and Renfe Class 310: shunting locomotives contemporaneous with the Class 311 introduced during Renfe’s fleet renewal program.
Notes
Sources
- Arenillas Melendo, Justo : "La Traccion en los ferrocarriles españoles," Editorial Via Libre, Madrid, 2007