Our
Restorations
STEAM TRAINS
Restoration process
MECALPER S.L. was chosen by “Dragados y Construcciones” for the restoration of several steam locomotives which had been left abandoned to their fate for over two decades on some disused railway tracks in Ponferrada. Now these steam trains are splendidly exhibited in the Ponferrada railway museum and can be identified by the numbers 3,5,14,15,41,51 y 31. Some of them entered our workshops on 27 February 1998 where they received a thorough restoration and were transformed to their past glory after many years of neglect.
The restoration process was complex. The locomotives were completely disassembled and unique restoration techniques were used.
The repair process
The trains were first sand blasted with approximately 20 tons of sand being used for each locomotive. In this way the surface rust was eliminated.
Next the main components were disassembled in order to decide what was missing and what needed replacing or rebuilding.
The most difficult aspect of the restoration was perhaps rebuilding the dials of the old control panels and reproducing the original identification plaques. It was necessary to delve into old publications and with the help of an authentic magnifying glass type investigation we extracted a wealth of information, however insignificant it may have appeared at the time.
Nº3
Assembled in 1919 this train was given the name Ortiz Muriel. It is now displayed in a way that visitors can observe its interior and see how it work.
Nº5
Build in 1919 and given the name Villabaso.
Nº14
Macosa model of german origin and from 1950.
Nº15
Anoder Macosa model. This time from 1956 and interestingly the last steam train to be built in europe.
Nº15
Anoder Macosa model. This time from 1956 and interestingly the last steam train to be built in europe.
Nº22
A small tank engine with two axels. It was built in 1903 and used mainly in the mining industry. This was the first locomotive restored by Mecalper several years ago.
Nº41
Given the name Estéban Terradas is was built in 1940 and was one of the last trains purchased by M.S.P. (Minero Siderúrgica de Ponferrada), the principal coal mining company in the region).
Nº51
Wide gauge locomotive built in 1922 and transporting coal for M.S.P. until as late as 1084. It was one of the few locomotives in Spain with lateral water tanks.
Nº31
The authentic jewel in the crown of the M.S.P. and the figurehead of their fleet of stean trains. Acquired in 1943 and the work of a german firm. It was taken out of service in the 1980s and eventually entered the workshop for restoration in may 1999.
Nº31
This proved to be a delicate and complicated restoration. Much it had to be rebuilt, including the wheels, the axels and all the tubing. The cabin, the frame and the external part of the boiler are from the original locomotive. Finally after many months of hard work the proud old locomotive was officially tested on tracks in the Mecalper workshop in october 2001. It will eventually be put into operation again in the near future on the planned tourist route between Cubillos del Sil and Villablino.
Address
Ctra. N VI, Km. 395,5
24549 Carracedelo, León.
spain
Phone
(+34) 987 562 576
Fax
(+34) 987 562 667
mecalper@mecalper.com