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The Série 1800 was a class of 10 diesel-electric locomotives built for the Portuguese Railways (CP) in 1968. Designed and engineered by 
By mid-1969, the class had logged more than 4 million kilometres in regular use and had proven their worth by hauling heavier and faster trains than other locomotive classes for CP.The Portuguese Hoovers '' Rail'' issue 88 January 1989 pages 47-49
Initially they were used on the express services on the main line between Barreiro (near
Photographs of CP Série 1800 locomotives on the Flickr website
{{Rolling stock of Portugal Railway locomotives introduced in 1968 English Electric locomotives 5 ft 6 in gauge locomotives Diesel-electric locomotives of Portugal
English Electric
N.º UIC: 9094 110 1449-3 (Takargo Rail)
The English Electric Company Limited (EE) was a British industrial manufacturer formed after the Armistice of 11 November 1918, armistice of World War I by amalgamating five businesses which, during th ...
, they were closely modelled on the British Rail Class 50
The British Rail Class 50 is a class of diesel locomotives designed to haul express passenger trains at . Built by English Electric at the Vulcan Foundry in Newton-le-Willows between 1967 and 1968, the Class 50s were initially on a 10-year leas ...
locomotives but built for CP's and larger loading gauge
A loading gauge is a diagram or physical structure that defines the maximum height and width dimensions in railway vehicles and their loads. Their purpose is to ensure that rail vehicles can pass safely through tunnels and under bridges, and ke ...
than possible in Great Britain.
Like the British Rail Class 50s, they were equipped with an English Electric 16 CSVT engine and produced 2700 hp. Unlike the Class 50 locomotives, which made extensive use of electronic control, the Portuguese locomotives were equipped with conventional control gear. The main generator and the traction motors were identical to those used on the BR Type 3 and Deltic locomotives. The Série 1800 locomotives were built to be closely compatible with the smaller CP Série 1400 (themselves based on the British Rail Class 20) and also to use as many common components as possible. When delivered they were the only diesel locomotives in Portugal authorised to run at .
By mid-1969, the class had logged more than 4 million kilometres in regular use and had proven their worth by hauling heavier and faster trains than other locomotive classes for CP.The Portuguese Hoovers '' Rail'' issue 88 January 1989 pages 47-49
Initially they were used on the express services on the main line between Barreiro (near Lisbon
Lisbon (; pt, Lisboa ) is the capital and largest city of Portugal, with an estimated population of 544,851 within its administrative limits in an area of 100.05 km2. Grande Lisboa, Lisbon's urban area extends beyond the city's administr ...
) and Faro. After the electrification of the main line the locomotives were relegated to Inter Regional services in the Algarve. They were also used on the steeply-graded Beira Alta line, but were displaced by the more powerful Série 1960 locomotives in the late 1970s.
Apart from one which suffered serious accident damage, the Série 1800s were all withdrawn in 2001.
A single example is now part of the CP Railway Museum collection and has been repainted into the original blue livery. All others have been or are being scrapped (as of late 2012/early 2013).
References
Further reading
*External links
Photographs of CP Série 1800 locomotives on the Flickr website
{{Rolling stock of Portugal Railway locomotives introduced in 1968 English Electric locomotives 5 ft 6 in gauge locomotives Diesel-electric locomotives of Portugal