1000mm gauge Bo-BoDE no.9030 at Tua.
By far one of the most scenic of the Portuguese narrow gauge lines was that from Tua in the upper reaches of the Douro Valley to Mirandela and Bragança. The line turned north into the valley of the Tua river running on a ledge in the gorge initially before reaching open countryside and the olive groves around Mirandela. Because of its length the line retained loco haulage pretty well to the end although freight traffic ceased around 1990. At its full extent the line was one of the longest at 133.8kms but this was pruned back in September 1991 when the section between Mirandela and Bragança lost its passenger service with the line deemed closed from December 1991. A short 4km section was later reinstated in 1995 between Mirandela and Carvalhais and ironically that is all that now survives along with a short section south of Mirandela to Cachão titled the "Mirandela Metro" and funded by the local authority. The section between Tua and Cachão (Mirandela) had its service suspended after an accident on 22/8/2008 and sadly it was never reinstated with the formal closure coming the following year.
In happier time loco 9030 is seen with its single coach and a bogie box van waiting to form the 11.21 Tua to Mirandela.
1000mm gauge Bo-BoDE no.9030 at Tua.
By far one of the most scenic of the Portuguese narrow gauge lines was that from Tua in the upper reaches of the Douro Valley to Mirandela and Bragança. The line turned north into the valley of the Tua river running on a ledge in the gorge initially before reaching open countryside and the olive groves around Mirandela. Because of its length the line retained loco haulage pretty well to the end although freight traffic ceased around 1990. At its full extent the line was one of the longest at 133.8kms but this was pruned back in September 1991 when the section between Mirandela and Bragança lost its passenger service with the line deemed closed from December 1991. A short 4km section was later reinstated in 1995 between Mirandela and Carvalhais and ironically that is all that now survives along with a short section south of Mirandela to Cachão titled the "Mirandela Metro" and funded by the local authority. The section between Tua and Cachão (Mirandela) had its service suspended after an accident on 22/8/2008 and sadly it was never reinstated with the formal closure coming the following year.
In happier time loco 9030 is seen with its single coach and a bogie box van waiting to form the 11.21 Tua to Mirandela.