Spanish steam 2009 - Tren de la Fresa

Times, dates and prices have just been posted at http://www.museodelferrocarril.org/tren_fresa_informacion.htm. The english button on this page is still under construction as it has been for years! I have yet to find out which steam locomotive is scheduled for this train as the Garrett has returned to Lleida to operate from there to Balaguer on weekends in spring and autumn. Had I known it was running today I could have gone to see it as I was driving past Madrid this afternoon on the way home! Instead all I saw was two class 58s in the new Madrid-Valencia HSL.

 

Yesterdays (Sunday 17th May) train was hauled both ways by North British 2-8-2 141F2111. Photos will be published when I get more time.

 

Photographs are now available at http://members.lycos.co.uk/stepping_stones/S2009/S2009.htm

 

A fine looking machine - beautifully turned-out ! =D>

 

The train is advertised for steam or heritage diesel/electric traction and at 26€ for the round trip there would not be too many complaints. It operates on an extremely busy high speed main line so the back-up is probably necessary and it also supplies assistance with train marshalling while the steam loco undergoes servicing at Aranjuez. I have only once seen a single loco operate this train and the back up was a few minutes behind it. The diesel and electric belong to the Madrid museum, as does the train. I'm not sure who owns the steam locomotive but I can find out.
Edited: It belongs to "Fundación dos Ferrocarriles de Galicia" and is usually based at Monforte Museo de Ferricarriles.

 

Very late reply but, the diesel (or an electric) often follows the outbound train and is used for shunting while the steam loco is being serviced. It runs back attached to the rear so that it can draw the empty train out of Atocha and into the museum without causing any disruption to normal intensive services.
When the Mikado was returned to its home base in June (for political reasons?) a heritage diesel and electric were used for the rest of the season and the complaints from the passengers were numerous - they considered the fare of 24€ was extortion as it was cheaper to take a commuter train. The fact that the fare included buses and some museum visits as well as the strawberries did not matter.
This year there is no steam at all but 3 "heritage" locomotives were used including a class 269. I didn't get to see it as I have been "grounded" by a hernia.
For info, the Garratt is now working Lleida to Balaguer at weekends.