Renfe Talgo IV/V/VI 1.5:1 Scale

Series IV, V and VI were called Talgo Pendular, due to the fact that they incorporated pendulation technology, since the cars "hung" from the suspension, while other trains, such as Pendolinos, were usually called trains. tilting, since they "tilted" on the boxwoods.

As with the RD system, the pendulation was first tested in a prototype composition that traveled thousands of kilometers alone and coupled to Talgo III compositions during the second half of the 1970s. This composition, formed by 4 Talgo III cars, made it possible to establish not only the suitability of the system, but the balance between comfort and performance in its operation.

The Talgo pendulation technology consisted of the secondary suspension being raised above the center of mass of the train with the air suspension pressure balls on the roof; Thus, the cars were suspended from the shock absorbers like a pendulum. When the train took a curve, the bottom moved to the outside of the curve. The boxes were tilted in curves by centrifugal force, without the possibility of error and without energy consumption. But, as any suspension tends to put the box back in a horizontal position, there was an electro-pneumatic system that prevented the passage of air to the suspension so that the car remained inclined. This allowed lateral accelerations to be better compensated, allowing curves to be taken at higher speeds while maintaining passenger comfort.

The first compositions began service on July 15, 1980, with a more modern and less groundbreaking aesthetic than the series III. The entire series was made up of fixed tread compositions in Iberian gauge, with a maximum speed of 180 km/h. They have carried out both daytime and nighttime services under the names Talgo, Altaria, Trenhotel and Intercity, forming mixed compositions with V and VI series trailers.

Talgo V was a version of the series IV equipped with movable wheels and intended for international services. The RD system was more expensive and complex to maintain than conventional fixed rolling; The nocturnal Talgo Pendulares received the commercial name of Trenhotel from Renfe, both those that made internal routes in Spain and the international ones. They have also carried out daytime services under the name Talgo or Altaria.

Talgo VI was made as an improvement of the 5 series. Its origin is closely linked to the inauguration, in 1992, of the first high-speed line in Spain, the Madrid-Seville. When building the line in international gauge, it became necessary for variable gauge trains to be able to enter the line, to take advantage of its greater features, and leave it changing gauge to reach other destinations outside of it. After the Madrid-Málaga AVE line was inaugurated, other services such as Talgo, Altaria and Trenhotel are currently provided. These compositions have been used for international routes between Spain and France, under the name Elipsos Trenhotel, until their suppression in December 2013 due to the entry of the Barcelona-Figueres high-speed line.

In May 2021, Renfe withdrew all daytime and nighttime trains after 41 years of service. Many of the compositions are today isolated and in poor condition at the Talgo Las Matas base and the La Sagra workshops, with many dismantled trailers found. Most of the original Talgo daytime services have been replaced by more modern 130/730 series and 120/121 series with better capabilities.