The Pajares pass in the north of Spain is one of the most impressive mountain lines of Europe, with more then 60 tunnels, loops and some viaducts. In fact it is more a ramp, with a grade of 2 %, climbing from sea level in Gijon via Oviedo and over the Cantábrica mountain range to the inner spanish highland. The highest point is 1270 meter a.s.l. at the south portal of the 3072 meter long Perruca tunnel below the Pajares pass. The mostly single track line in the iberian broad gauge of 1668 mm (5 ft 5 21⁄32 in) was built between 1864 and 1884 and electrified in 1924 with 3000 V DC. Beside of the 251 series, few locomotives of the 269 series can be seen. The 269 # 853 is the number of a permanently coupled pair of the former # 805 and 806, with reduced velocity of 100 km/h and based in León for freight service on the Pajares line. Originally, this locomotives were built as 269 # 022 and 040 by CAF in 1974/54, the design was from Mitsubishi/Japan. The power of this pair, entering the 3072 meter long Perruca tunnel, is 2 x 3100 kW.
