Passion for the Railroad
An intimate collection of photographs celebrating the volunteers of the Catalonia Railway Museum.
By Spanish Railways Foundation
Fundación de los Ferrocarriles Españoles
For the Love of the Art…
The rail yard and rooms within the Catalonia Railway Museum are filled with locomotives, passenger cars, and the items and equipment that pioneered the country's modern railroad. How did these items make it to the museum: under what circumstances, where from, and who brought them?
Exterior view of the locomotive roundhouse at the Catalonia Railway Museum with the Centenary Train in the foreground (2016) by Eduardo Perucha EstebanSpanish Railways Foundation
A huge number of people have made this possible, but we want to shine a light on the museum's group of cultural volunteers, for their generosity and commitment to the project.
This is an homage to those who work for the love of their art, and who take pleasure in their work. This group is the association of volunteers: the Partners and Collaborators (Socis i Col·laboradors, or SiC).
Using the facilities, resources, and inspiration of the Catalonia Railway Museum, along with impetus from the Spanish Railways Foundation, their aim is to recover memories, and display the exhibits in the best condition possible, without changing their basic features.
The roundhouse at the Catalonia Railway Museum (2016) by Catalonia Railway MuseumSpanish Railways Foundation
This image shows one of the museum's trademarks: locomotives sheltered from the elements, with just their head ends emerging.
The Centenary Train in operation at the Catalonia Railway Museum facilities (2016)Spanish Railways Foundation
The centenary train in the photograph, in perfect working order, is a symbol of the railroad's rehabilitation and revival.
Behind the scenes of the museum's monthly attraction, the volunteers carry out maintenance and repairs in order to show it to the public.
Front view of the Centenary Train (the number 1) firing (2016) by Eduardo Perucha EstebanSpanish Railways Foundation
The railroad is intrinsically linked to the steam locomotive, evocative of its great history. The steam locomotive is representative of Spain's entire rail history, and also that of Güines (Cuba).
The firing, the train driver and the fireman (2016) by Eduardo Perucha EstebanSpanish Railways Foundation
In the hands of experts, this astonishing technology is capable of moving goods and passenger trains with the power of steam.
Coal: the main fuel of a steam locomotive (2016) by Eduardo Perucha EstebanSpanish Railways Foundation
Steam is the energy resulting from the combination of water and fire. For these earliest locomotives, the fire was generated by burning coal.
The complexity of the operation of a steam locomotive (2016) by Eduardo Perucha EstebanSpanish Railways Foundation
A Never-ending Job of Care and Affection
Continuous maintenance is required so that the exhibits can remain in good condition, and be displayed just as they would have looked when they were in use.
Operator greasing the Mataró locomotive (2016) by Eduardo Perucha EstebanSpanish Railways Foundation
The mechanical elements must be lubricated by hand, requiring a precise knowledge of each part.
Rivets in a railway vehicle (2016) by Eduardo Perucha EstebanSpanish Railways Foundation
Rivets are one of the oldest and most effective methods of joining two or more metallic parts together. History shows just how effective they are.
A story of the team's tenacity. Preservation work on a railway vehicle at the Catalonia Railway Museum (2016) by Eduardo Perucha EstebanSpanish Railways Foundation
The Tenacity of the Team…
The volunteers began restoring this passenger car many years ago. Every operation must be done by hand, and every restored part has a history.
Prior state of preservation of a vehicle before proceeding to its restoration (2016) by Eduardo Perucha EstebanSpanish Railways Foundation
Before …
This piece of rotten wood is a glimpse into the challenges faced by the volunteers in their efforts to restore historical memory.
This photograph shows the #21 Falcon car from the Reus-Salou railroad before its restoration.
Side view of a passenger railway vehicle after restoration work (2016) by Eduardo Perucha EstebanSpanish Railways Foundation
… and after
The final result is an admirable effort, and a reward for us all.
This photograph shows the cars from the centenary train, which were restored in the Renfe workshop, next door to the Catalonia Railway Museum.
Preservation work on a railway vehicle at the Catalonia Railway Museum (2016) by Eduardo Perucha EstebanSpanish Railways Foundation
Few tasks here are automated; they are carried out by hand, and with great care and attention.
Lifting of a scale reproduction of a steam locomotive. (2016) by Eduardo Perucha EstebanSpanish Railways Foundation
The construction of steam locomotives is happening today on a large scale.
The locomotive roundhouse (2016) by Eduardo Perucha EstebanSpanish Railways Foundation
The more valuable items that have already been restored—true railroad gems—are kept in this shed.
The Passion
This is the ultimate reward for visitors to the Catalonia Railway Museum. If you visit, ask for the volunteers: they will amaze you with their passion and enthusiasm for the railway universe.
Spanish Railways Foundation
www.ffe.es
Catalonia Railway Museum (Museo del Ferrocarril de Cataluña)
www.museudelferrocarril.org
Photograph: Eduardo Perucha Esteban, railwayman and photographer.
