CP 1960 series diesel locomotives

Built by Bombardier.

The CP 1961–1973 series diesel locomotives entered service in 1979.

In the 1970s, the CP Management Board wanted to modernise the fleet of broad-gauge diesel locomotives through the acquisition of new rolling stock and offer machines capable of meeting the growing need for larger loads, as well as hauling heavy trains, particularly on winding and steeply graded lines such as the Beira Alta line.

It was against this backdrop that an order for 13 diesel-electric locomotives was placed with the Canadian manufacturer Bombardier. Capable of travelling at a maximum speed of 120 km/h, CP’s new locomotives stood out for their power, 120 tonnes of adhesive weight, six powered axles, the ability to supply electricity to carriages for air conditioning, vacuum and compressed air braking, and their capacity to operate in multiple units.

CP’s new diesel locomotives arrived in Portugal in the second half of 1979 and were unloaded at the Alcântara dock in the port of Lisbon. Between May and June of that year, the entire fleet arrived and was sent to the Entroncamento depot. The inaugural services ran between Lisbon, Entroncamento, Pampilhosa and Vilar Formoso, precisely the route where they served for much of their career.

The electrification of the Beira Alta Line to Guarda in 1996 and Vilar Formoso in 1997 meant that the CP 1960 series was used almost exclusively for freight services on other lines, with occasional appearances on passenger services.

As for the colour scheme, the original livery was orange, with white stripes and brown ends. As with other CP series, these were the colours that remained until they were withdrawn from service.

The career of these locomotives began in the late 1970s and lasted until the mid-2010s. They operated on almost the entire standard-gauge section of the national rail network, with a notable presence on the Beira Alta Line. They were present on the Douro, Minho, Beira Baixa, Oeste, North and Leste lines, as well as on the branches to the port of Aveiro, Braga, Louriçal and Cáceres. They provided various types of traction, ranging from passenger and freight trains to international trains and special services.

The gradual electrification of the Portuguese railway network and the arrival of new electric locomotives contributed to the decline of the series. In 2010, the locomotives were handed over to the former CP Carga. Six years later, a large part of the fleet was permanently out of service.