Narrow gauge G class in Majorca

[jhb171achill]

On holiday in Majorca in the mid or late 90s, and bored with sun, sea and sand, I went off walkabout on the island's excellent bus and train network. At the time, the line just extended from Palma to Inca, with work just commencing on reopening the line onwards towards Sa Pobla, previously closed in 1981.

 

So there was a construction train parked in a siding there; just a couple of four wheel ballast wagons headed by an absolute clone of a G class loco. Exact same design, same Deutz builders plate, with building date about 1980! Other than that it was metre gauge, rather than 5'3", it could have been Downpatrick or Loughrea.

 

The thing was yellow all over, but this did not detract.

 

Anyone ever seen it?

 

IRM tends to concentrate almost entirely on 5'3", rather than our wealth of narrow gauge lines. If anyone out there is modelling narrow gauge, clearly a G lookalike would / could have been a feature on a West Clare or Donegal system that might have survived longer.

 

And what if the three F's had ended up on a surviving Donegal line?

[Eiretrains]

This link came across my way some time ago, a similar Deutz G Class photographed in 1994 in Bologna (in Co.Donagel colours). I've so far failed to discover if it still exists.

http://s983.photobucket.com/user/Phils428/media/IRL1_zpsa4dbb068.jpg.html

[jhb171achill]

That "CDR" one is particularly interesting as it shows the cab window style of the G601 type, rather than the later ones. So it is clear that locos of this standard type were being built for at least three gauges between the mid 1950s and early 1980s.

 

I wonder are there definitive records anywhere showing what other G class loco's there might be kicking about? The one in Majorca was not owned by the railway company, but by the outside contractor relaying the old line from 3ft gauge to metre.

[jhb171achill]

Looking closer, it's air braked, and I suspect the buffer height may be lower than in Ireland. Detail differences eg from steps and handrails are about the only differences between this and the CIE version.

[minister_for_hardship]

That "CDR" one is particularly interesting as it shows the cab window style of the G601 type, rather than the later ones. So it is clear that locos of this standard type were being built for at least three gauges between the mid 1950s and early 1980s.

 

I wonder are there definitive records anywhere showing what other G class loco's there might be kicking about? The one in Majorca was not owned by the railway company, but by the outside contractor relaying the old line from 3ft gauge to metre.

 

here's another few Deutz's around Europe...

 

http://www.rail-pictures.com/1024/the-shunter-locomotive-1024-pictured-10782.jpg

 

 

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2368/5803438321_90b5febf13_o.jpg

 

 

presume locos all produced around the same era had identical or similar components or at least a 'family' resemblance.

Edited September 11, 2013 by minister_for_hardship

[jhb171achill]

Excellent, most interesting!

 

Now, will a R-T-R model one in some German, Austrian or Czech livery turn up!