Скачать или смотреть Absolutely-MLWelcome-Back-Tastic!! CP 1557, Tomar to Castelo Branco with PTG Tour, 7th November 2022

A video of the Portuguese Traction Group tour "The Return" which ran from 6th November to 12th November 2022. This video only covers the train on the 7th November, specifically because of the use of a CP 1550 class locomotive which had been returned to use a few weeks before the tour ran. The CP 1550 locomotives had been stopped for several years but due to a shortage of motive power CP recommenced overhauls of these fine locomotives in order to return them to traffic, primarily as rescue locomotives.

Twenty CP 1550s were built by Montreal Locomotive Works, Canada, in 1973 as their model MX620 and were fitted with an Alco 12-251C engine rated at around 2,100hp. Locomotives were numbered 1551-1570. Some of these locomotives are now owned by track maintenance company Somafel.
At this time [December 2022] two locomotives have been returned to CP service - 1554 first, followed by 1557 - it is believed a third is being overhauled.

At the start of the day the train is seen arriving at Tomar, with 1557 leading in to the station. At the rear of the train is similarly recently restored to operation Alsthom electric locomotive 2609. Sandwiched between 1557 & 2609 are three restored 1940s Schindler "Leichstahlwagen" coaches. After being hauled to Entroncamento by 2609 1557 is viewed starting and departing toward Abrantes, stopping along the way at Santa Margarida to let an IC hauled by electric locomotive 5614 pass.

At Abrantes Medway E 5034 with a single tank wagon is passed, the train then branching off and heading over the Tagus river. After passing a dam - Barragem de Belver - the line hugs the bank of the Tagus river for some distance. Along the way the train pauses at Barca da Amiera to pass an EMU with a local service. A good number of lineside photographers are visible on the road bridge above the next dam, Barragem do Fratel. After Portas do Ródão the Tagus heads off upstream to the south east while the train continues in to Ródão where due to wrong signalling the train is put on the wrong line to access the freight branch in to the Altri Empresa paper mill and has to set back.

During the stop at Empresa 1557 was shut down while those travelling visited the Altri offices to view a film about the operations at Empresa. 1557 was then started again and propelled the whole train back to Ródão station from where the train set off toward Castelo Branco, the generally uphill gradient making the loco work hard.

[4K source]

00:00:00 Tomar
00:02:40 Entroncamento
00:10:38 Barquinha
00:11:43 Praia do Ribatejo
00:13:55 Santa Margarida
00:19:59 Abrantes
00:27:19 Alferrarede
00:28:03 Alvega-Ortiga
00:31:46 Barragem de Belver
00:44:50 Barca da Amiera
00:52:37 Barragem do Fratel
00:57:30 Fratel
00:59:09 Portas do Ródão
01:04:06 Ródão
01:11:14 Empresa Paper Mill
01:20:05 Ródão
01:31:34 Tojeirinha
01:37:23 Sarnadas
01:39:47 Retaxo
01:40:16 Castelo Branco