Sabor line
The Linha do Sabor was a narrow gauge railway in Portugal, which ran between the stations Pocinho on the Linha do Douro and Duas Igrejas at Mirando do Douro. From the time of its full completion (1938 ) until its closure (1988 ) it has been used fifty years.
History
Planning and construction
By a decision of the Portuguese government from 1 July began 1903 on behalf of the Minister of Public Works, Conde de Paçô Vieira, planning for the construction of a connection from the Linha do Douro in the circle of Miranda do Douro, which mainly for its mineral resources (iron mines near Torre de Moncorvo and marble and alabaster inventories) was known and was previously only poorly developed. In addition, a cross-border railway traffic in the Spanish province of Zamora was being considered. Plan was also to build the railway Iberian broad gauge, as in the case of a narrow-gauge railway would have required costly shipments in the station of Pocinho.
15 November 1903, the state railway company Companhia de Caminhos de Ferro do Estado received the planning permission for the track, so that the construction work began then. The railway company spoke to the building of the distance in meter gauge, because the topography was not suitable for a broad gauge track. The Portuguese military support this due to the vicinity of the border as well. After numerous discussions between the state railways and various government institutions - it also compromises as a double track route considered was up to the mines -, the parties agreed to cover the whole distance in narrow gauge. The trans monti African topography it was then that significantly affected the construction. Just for the construction of the railway bridge over the Douro five years passed, so that this first in 1909 was completed. The first part of the course, between Pocinho and Carviçais was opened on 17 September 1911.
But also in the further construction of the track was granted no luck. The construction required a total of 34 years, especially the founding of the Republic in 1910 and the First World War began it negatively affected the economic situation of Portugal and therefore the money for such expensive buildings. In addition, the government slashed the project 1928 cash totaling 900,000 Portuguese escudos to this. For the construction of the railway line to Tomar This meant that the track never their intended target, the county town of Miranda do Douro, reached, but 12 km before ending in Duas Igrejas. The distance piece Carviçais - Lagoaça followed on July 6, 1927 Lagoaça - Mogadouro on 1 June 1930 and the final piece between Mogadouro and Duas Igrejas on 22 May 1938.
Operation and setting
The operation of the line awarded by the Portuguese Government 27 March 1927, the Companhia dos Caminhos de Ferro Portugueses, in turn, awarded a sub- concession to Companhia Nacional de Caminhos de Ferro to March 11, 1928. By merging all the Portuguese railway company to Caminhos de ferro Portugueses this took over the operation on the track. The population was rather skeptical about the railway, which is especially evident in any incident of 7 October 1925 in which a train loaded with fertilizer was shot and was occupied by Lagoaça.
From 1932 to 1972, the track was used in the postal traffic in the region. Furthermore, there was the railway line for the further transport of goods for the region of importance, including oranges, cherries, fertilizer, baked goods and souvenirs of Jesus were transported by Cartolinha.
After fifty years of road ended on the track for August 1, 1988 due to austerity measures taken by the Portuguese Government.
Future
Currently, there is speculation about the re- opening of the line between Pocinho and Torre de Moncorvo as the company Rio Tinto is interested in the breakdown of the Minas de Moncorvo. The rest of the route is to be converted into a tourist bicycle path ( " Ciclovia "). However, there is the combined path and railway bridge over the Douro in Pocinho danger of collapse; the bridge is closed for safety reasons for any entry.