The line opened on March 22, 1931, and has been electrically operated from the start. It became part of the Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC) on January 2, 1984 and remains in their ownership. The line connects to the main R3 line at Ribes de Freser, but the stations have separate access.
The line is 12.5 km (7.8 mi) long and has a rail gauge of 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in). The first 5.5 km (3.4 mi) of the line is operated by conventional rail adhesion. The remainder of the line is operated as a rack railway, using the Abt system and with a maximum gradient of 15%. In total the line overcomes a height difference of 1,062 m (3,484 ft). The line is electrified with an overhead supply at 1500 VDC.
Rolling stock
Three generations of rolling stock exist on the line. The original stock consisted of passenger cars hauled by four six-wheeled electric locomotives, numbered E1-E4, built by SLM and BBC in 1930–31. They were supplemented by four two-car electric trains numbered A5-A8, built by SLM and BBC in 1985.
The final generation is represented by two low-floor electric motor coaches of type Stadler GTW and numbered A10-A11, built by Stadler Rail in Switzerland in 2003. The line also owns a diesel rack locomotive, D9, used on works trains and to push the snow plough.
Cars A10 and A11 are identical to the rolling stock of the Montserrat Rack Railway. The Montserrat line is also owned by the FGC and some stock is shared between the lines. Locomotive E4 is transferred for use on work trains.
Rolling stock of the Montserrat Rack Railway are listed, if they are or were also used in Vall Núria
Picture link
Number, name
type (UIC)
Year built
History
Additional info
E1 Virgen de Nuria E2 Obispo Guitarat E3 José Rogent * E4 Ramon Albó
Built for Montserrat line, transferred to Vall Núria in 2006 DM6
A10 Noufonts A11 Bastiments
2'Bbo 2' g2d
2003
Stadler 825–826
Cogwheel-GTW, same as AM1–AM5 (Montserrat). A10 transferred to Montserrat and repainted with Montserrat Rack Railway colors. It was renamed to "La Roca Foradada". A11 will be transferred soon to Montserrat.
MGB/FO Uce 4861,62,67, MGB/FO Gb-v 4433', MGB/BVZ K 2641 (1962, 1989 ex X 2906)
Flat cars P24 with cement mixer P25–P26 with thermic container
P27−P28
B
1949
MGB/FO B 4244–45 ex SBB A 182–183 (SWS)
Bought in 2008, still with original livery, 4244 with auxiliary cab
B 2273 and Bt 2275
B
1963/98/19
MGB/BVZ B 2273 and 2275 (SIG, 1998 verlängert)
Bought in 2019, used with H12 and repainted blue in 2020 to match that locomotive
364.01
2 g1
1930
SLM 3469/BBC 3680
Rotary snow plough
KCw 29
Fd
Service vehicle for track ballast
T5
X
Catenary car, without cogwheel
**) Original roster, built by Vereinigte Westdeutsche Waggonfabrik A.G., is said to have been formed of Affw 2, ABffw 11–15, Bffw 21–28 and Aaffw 51. However, box car 01 was rebuilt from Affw 1 and there was a Bffw 29; at the same time ABffw 13–15 and Bffw 26 were off the roster.
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