Lost line - Portugal's Tua Valley.
Only a minute and a half (as permitted by flickr) of fairly average video, but one which aught to be of some interest to our Portuguese friends and indeed anyone who enjoys scenic narrow gauge railways.
The Metre gauge Tua Valley line was the most easterly of the three surviving narrow gauge tributaries to the main Douro Valley line which just about made it into the 21st century. In recent times it ran from it's interchange through some initially spectacular scenery to a truncated terminus at Mirandela.
As local roads improved with the aid of EU cash at a similar time to CP (Portuguese Railways) feeling the financial pinch, the line ... and indeed all three, were unceremoniously closed.
This little video piece was recorded in the late 1990s when the meagre service was loco hauled using two or three coaches and a 1000hp Alsthom built Bo-Bo Diesel Electric. In the last days, it became the province of a single railcar.
Such was the carefree attitude which prevailed in Portugal at the time, I was able to film away from the open vestibule door whilst my travelling companion held onto my collar! I'd expected we might be in bother when it came time for a ticket check, but a quick glance from the guard at ours and away he went leaving us to do as we pleased. The line and particularly the trip up this spectacular gorge is much lamented ... Such a potential tourist draw in 90% of other EU countries would have ensured the operation would have had a secure future in that sector, but sadly, not in Portugal.
Lost line - Portugal's Tua Valley.
Only a minute and a half (as permitted by flickr) of fairly average video, but one which aught to be of some interest to our Portuguese friends and indeed anyone who enjoys scenic narrow gauge railways.
The Metre gauge Tua Valley line was the most easterly of the three surviving narrow gauge tributaries to the main Douro Valley line which just about made it into the 21st century. In recent times it ran from it's interchange through some initially spectacular scenery to a truncated terminus at Mirandela.
As local roads improved with the aid of EU cash at a similar time to CP (Portuguese Railways) feeling the financial pinch, the line ... and indeed all three, were unceremoniously closed.
This little video piece was recorded in the late 1990s when the meagre service was loco hauled using two or three coaches and a 1000hp Alsthom built Bo-Bo Diesel Electric. In the last days, it became the province of a single railcar.
Such was the carefree attitude which prevailed in Portugal at the time, I was able to film away from the open vestibule door whilst my travelling companion held onto my collar! I'd expected we might be in bother when it came time for a ticket check, but a quick glance from the guard at ours and away he went leaving us to do as we pleased. The line and particularly the trip up this spectacular gorge is much lamented ... Such a potential tourist draw in 90% of other EU countries would have ensured the operation would have had a secure future in that sector, but sadly, not in Portugal.