{"id":849,"date":"2021-12-18T13:04:39","date_gmt":"2021-12-18T13:04:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ernstkers.nl\/blog\/?p=849"},"modified":"2024-01-31T19:13:22","modified_gmt":"2024-01-31T19:13:22","slug":"coimbra-trams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ernstkers.nl\/blog\/coimbra-trams\/","title":{"rendered":"Coimbra trams"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Coimbra trams nos. 18, 12 and 19 at Manuten\u00e7\u00e3o Militar, 1960’s.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Coimbra was one of the five places in Portugal that had an electric tram system. The city is situated about 200 km north of Lisboa and 120 km south of Porto and dates from the Roman period. The oldest part of the city “Alta” or “Almedina” occupies an irregularly-shaped hill overlooking the Rio Mondego. Already in the Middle Ages the “Baixa” (lower town) was built along the river. Here the principal shops and other commercial activities are located. The Alta and the Baixa are separated by the main shopping street. This street has two names, Rua Ferreira Borges for the southern part and Rua Visconde da Luz for the slightly wider northern part, but they are in line with each other and in practice make one street.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The University of Coimbra is the oldest of Portugal and one of the oldest world-wide: founded in 1290 in Lisboa, but definitive located in Coimbra since 1537. The main buildings of the university are on the top of the hill. The path from the Baixa to the university is far too steep to make a tramline possible and the trams had to go around the hill to the other side where the slope is less steep, but still challenging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1864 the railway between Lisboa and Porto got fully in service, except for the short section between Porto and VN de Gaia across the Douro. This gave Coimbra good connections with both the largest cities of the country. The railway station is located about 2 km from the old city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jump to the subject:<\/em><\/strong>
Mule trams<\/a>
Electric trams, the first years<\/a>
Electric trams, the period 1920-1960<\/a>
Electric trams, the final decades<\/a>
Depots, Power supply and Tram museum<\/a>
Rolling stock<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Rail Road Conimbricense (RRC)<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On 17 September 1874 a “Caminho de Ferro Americano” (horse tramline) was opened between the Cal\u00e7ada ao Arco da Almedina (now Rua Ferreira Borges) and the railway station by the \u201cRail Road Conimbricense<\/em>\u201d (RRC). The official inauguration had taken place two days before. The provisional timetable showed 4 journeys daily connecting at the railway station with the trains of the Companhia Real dos Caminhos de Ferro<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The line was extended by May 8, 1875 from Cal\u00e7ada ao Arco da Almedina via Largo P. Carlos I (now Portagem) and Largo das Ameias through the very narrow Rua das Solas (now Rua Adelino Veiga) to Pra\u00e7a do Com\u00e9rcio. The RRC transported also freight for which there was a siding to the goods station of the railway station. Crossing places were in Rua da Sofia, Largo de Sans\u00e3o (now Pra\u00e7a 8 de Maio) and Largo P. Carlos I.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Little is known about the earliest trams in Coimbra. They were manufactured by Starbuck, United Kingdom. At least one of the cars had an imperial with seats on the roof. In 1884 the RRC had 5 passenger cars, 4 freight wagons and 12 mules for pulling the vehicles. The depot of the cars and the stables of the mules were in the Rua da Sofia, opposite to the Quartel (barracks) da Gra\u00e7a.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

End of the Rail Road Conimbricense<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

For ten years the tramline flourished well, but on 18 October 1885 an about 2 km long branch railway was opened between the station and Largo das Ameias near the city centre. The station on the main line was now called “Coimbra-B”, locally known as “Esta\u00e7\u00e3o Velha” (Old Station). The station in the city was called “Coimbra-A” (or just “Coimbra”) locally known as “Esta\u00e7\u00e3o Nova” (New Station). The competing steam trains caused a severe drop in the number of passengers and amount of freight for the tram company. The dispatch goods station of the RRC was moved from Pra\u00e7a do Com\u00e9rcio to Pra\u00e7a 8 de Maio. Apparently the short section between the Esta\u00e7\u00e3o Nova (Largo das Ameias) and Pra\u00e7a do Com\u00e9rcio was not used anymore. But the small tram company inevitable lost the battle with the large railway company. The end of the RRC came at the beginning of April 1887.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This postcard was used in 1906 and shows the Pra\u00e7a 8 de Maio with the track of the CCFC. In the background in the Rua Visconde da Luz is a mule tram visible.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Companhia Carris de Ferro de Coimbra (CCFC)<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In January 1903 the City Council granted a provisional concession for a period of 30 years for the construction of a new mule tram network to a new company with the name Companhia Carris de Ferro de Coimbra<\/em> (CCFC). The new company adopted the same gauge as Lisboa (900 mm). It will not have been coincidence that the CCFC came to existence short after the Carris de Ferro de Lisboa had electrified its network and had mule trams and rails for sale.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 1 January 1904 the first line was opened between Esta\u00e7\u00e3o Nova and Esta\u00e7\u00e3o Velha. The second route opened on 4 February connecting the Pra\u00e7a 8 de Maio with the Largo Porta F\u00e9rrea, in front of the University.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The network was complete single track with a few passing loops, although it’s unknown how many and where exactly. The depot was located across the Rua da Figueira da Foz, near the Casa do Sal. The CCFC operated three lines, the number of return trips according to a schedule of 1907:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n