ARGENTINA: A former Buenos Aires metro car is being converted into a diesel-electric railcar by the Ferrocarril Central Buenos Aires co-operative, which hopes to restore passenger services to the currently disused Fátima - Rojas section of the 1 435 mm gauge Urquiza network.
Intended to operate with two trailer vehicles, the motor car has been fitted with a six-cylinder Cummins 6LTAA8.9-G2 engine and a 275 kW Stamford alternator. Reconditioned bogies are to be fitted as well as a new interior, featuring reversible 3+2 seating to maximise capacity.
Trials are planned to take place between Villa Ruiz and San Andrés de Giles on the Fátima - Rojas route, where work has been undertaken to upgrade infrastructure featuring 75 lb rail and, in places, earth ballast. CBA President Guillermo Robino hopes that the trainset would provide a low-cost solution for other secondary routes across Argentina.
The railcar has been named 'El Federico' after Federico Lacroze, promoter of the original Ferrocarril Central de Buenos Aires which later became part of the Urquiza network.
