FEVE 1900 series


The FEVE 1900 series is a meter-gauge dual-mode locomotive, manufactured by Ferrocarriles Españoles de Vía Estrecha and currently owned by Renfe Cercanías AM of Spain. It was the first dual-mode locomotive used on Spanish railroads. Seventeen locomotives were built in total, originally rebuilt from withdrawn locomotives. The locomotives were built for both freight and passenger services, including the tourist train Transcantábrico.

Background

As a result of Spain's Ministry of Development 2000-2007 infrastructure plan, railroad infrastructure was being upgraded. FEVE was modernizing their rolling stock; FEVE had modernized the 2400 and 2600 series diesel multiple units, as well as the 3500 and 3600 series electric multiple units. In addition, six freight locomotives built by the French manufacturer Alstom received new engines. and had invested over € in 2002 to build new locomotives.
The – a diesel locomotive built from 1955 to 1967 by Alstom – was withdrawn from service, as they were becoming too old to operate, and were not powerful enough to haul FEVE's steel trains. FEVE repurposed the parts of the withdrawn 1000 series locomotives to build the 1900 series locomotives.
The 1900 series locomotives were developed by the FEVE Rolling Stock Department as a dual-mode locomotive; they could run on electricity from overhead lines through pantographs, or from an onboard diesel engine. Several companies assisted FEVE in the production of the series 1900 locomotives, including Siemens, Caterpillar, Suncove, Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles, Sunsundegui, and SAB WABCO. The 1000 series locomotives were fitted with a new body, new pneumatic and electrical equipment, and Siemens traction motors. The locomotives were intended for both freight services and for the tourist train Transcantábrico; several locomotives were painted in the latter's two-tone blue-white livery.

History

Seventeen locomotives were built in total. The locomotives were built for two orders; the first order was for ten locomotives. The first locomotive, numbered 1901, was built and registered in September 2002. The locomotive underwent test runs in Valmaseda and Asturias, and entered service in December of the same year. The remaining nine locomotives of the first order, numbered 1902–1910, were built at the Sunsundegui workshops in Alsasua, and entered service in 2003. A second and final order of seven locomotives, which were numbered 1911–1917, were built and registered from June to July 2004.
In 2002, the 1900 series locomotives – the first dual-mode locomotives used on Spanish railroads – had reintroduced electric locomotives for freight services on Spanish meter-gauge railroads. In 2003, the Spanish rail network EuskoTren had virtually all of its 180 km of railroad lines electrified. EuskoTren had originally ceased their freight services in 1985, and ran exclusively passenger services. The locomotives hauled coils from the Aceraila rolling mill in Avilés, Asturias, to Lasarte station in Guipúzcoa, as part of an agreement between FEVE and Euskotren.
The locomotives have contributed to reducing environmental pollution and noise pollution, specifically for freight services through urban areas. The locomotives would use their diesel mode during day services, and their electric mode during night services, when lower electricity rates were available. In 2011, the locomotives were upgraded to switch between diesel or electric modes while moving.
The locomotives have been used for several tourist train services, including the Transcantábrico Gran Lujo, a 14-car train with seven sleeping carriages; Transcantábrico Clásico, a 13-car train with seven sleeping carriages; and the Tren Costa Verde Express, a 13-car train. In addition, the locomotives have also been used for the special services Tren de la Biosfera and Tren del Bajo Nalón.
On December 31, 2012, FEVE was absorbed into Renfe Operadora and Adif, with Renfe managing rolling stock and maintenance, and Adif managing infrastructure and operations. The following year, Renfe Feve – a division of Renfe that operated the meter-gauge railways – renumbered FEVE's rolling stock to match UIC identification and simply train monitoring done by Adif. The original number for the series, 1900, was changed to the series's corresponding UIC number, 619. The original number for the series is still commonly used.

Withdrawals

Since the locomotives were introduced, they had gradually been taken out of service. From 2007 to 2012, all 17 locomotives remained in service. In 2013, 14 locomotives were in service. In October 2024, seven locomotives were in service. Two locomotives had been cannibalized, with the remainder being taken out of service in March 2022, awaiting sale. On March 28, 2025, locomotive 1913 – one of the locomotives for sale at the time – was bought by, a railroad construction company. seven locomotives operate for, a division of Renfe Cercanías AM that operates tourist passenger services.
FEVE No.UIC No.Rebuilt fromDepotRegisteredStatus
190192 71 3 619-001-81025Santander2002/06/09Cannibalized
190292 71 3 619-002-61026Balmaseda2003In service
190392 71 3 619-003-41029El Berrón2003Not in service
190492 71 3 619-004-21023Balmaseda2003Not in service
190592 71 3 619-005-91054El Berrón2003In service
190692 71 3 619-006-71031El Berrón2003Not in service
190792 71 3 619-007-51021Balmaseda2003Not in service
190892 71 3 619-008-31028Santander2003Cannibalized
190992 71 3 619-009-11061Santander2003Not in service
191092 71 3 619-010-91063Santander2003In service
191192 71 3 619-011-7El Berrón2004/06/11Not in service
191292 71 3 619-012-5El Berrón2004/06/18Not in service
191392 71 3 619-013-3El Berrón2004/06/25In service
191492 71 3 619-014-1Santander2004/07/02In service
191592 71 3 619-015-8Balmaseda2004/07/09In service
191692 71 3 619-016-6Santander2004/07/16In service
191792 71 3 619-017-41062Balmaseda2004/07/23In service