1969/11/08, 10. The driver of CP 2-6-4T No. 077 oils round his engine as it stands in the Braga branch platform at Nine station, the junction with the Minho line from Porto to Monção, before departing for Braga with a train of antique rolling stock! Saturday 8th November 1969.

1969/11/08, 11. The junction station for the Braga branch off the Minho line was at Nine and there was a small loco depot there. In the sidings by the station, the crew of 2-8-4T No. 0188 are polishing up their engine, while 2-6-4T No 093 simmers in the background. Saturday 8th November 1969.

1969/11/09, 1. Aveiro was the station where the southern part of the narrow gauge system based on Sernada do Vouga met the broad gauge main line from Lisbõa to Porto. At the narrow gauge depot two 2-6-0T's simmer in the Sunday sunshine. In the foreground is E95, newly out of works, standing by the makeshift water tower. It was built by Decauville in 1910. In the background is E97 of the same class, but built by Orenstein & Koppel, also in 1910. 9th November 1969.

1969/11/09, 2. CP 2-6-0T No. E94 approaches Aveiro with a train from Sernada do Vouga in lovely evening light, while a local pedestrian waits to cross the line. E94 was built by Decauville in 1910. Note the ballast here consisted mainly of sand! Sunday 9th November 1969.

1969/11/10. Obviously well cared for, one of the four beautifully elegant metre-gauge 4-6-0T's built by Borsig in 1908, CP No. E121, potters about at Sernada do Vouga depot on the Viseu system. There was a shed and small works here, and lines radiating north to Espinho, west to Aveiro and east to Viseu. Monday 10th November 1969.

1970/11/02, 1. CP 4-6-0 No. 285 (Henschel 1910) has its oil-burner open wide as it is prepared to takeover the train from Porto which has just arrived at Régua behind diesel No. 1402 at the platform in the background. 1402 then removed the first few coaches from the train and various wagons were added by the station pilot before 285 took the train forward to Barca d'Alva at 12:35. Monday 2nd November 1970.

1970/11/02, 2. CP Bo-Bo diesel No. 1402 (Series 1400, built by English Electric) has just arrived at Régua with a train from Porto and has removed the first few coaches into the sidings. The station pilot is about to add various wagons to the train (hidden behind No. 285) and then 4-6-0 No. 285 will take over the train to depart for Barca d'Alva at 12:35. Monday 2nd November 1970.

1970/11/02, 3. CP Bo-Bo diesel No. 1402 (English Electric) has just arrived at Régua with a train from Porto and has removed the first few coaches into the sidings. The station pilot, 2-6-4T No. 076, is adding various wagons to the train (hidden behind No. 285) and then 4-6-0 No. 285 will take over the train to depart for Barca d'Alva at 12:35. Monday 2nd November 1970.

1970/11/02, 4. Metre-Gauge Henschel Mallet 2-4-6-0T No. E205 runs light engine westbound across the mixed gauge viaduct over the Rio Corgo, just east of Régua. At the far end of the viaduct the Corgo line turned left, while the main line carried on along the Rio Douro valley seen stretching into the distance. The works for the new dam at Bagausté, the Barragem de Régua, can just be seen a couple of miles upstream. The viaduct was used as a public footpath which was fine if only a metre-gauge train was on the bridge, but there was not much clearance when a broad gauge train passed! Monday 2nd November 1970.

1970/11/02, 5. CP 2-6-4T No. 076 is the station pilot at Régua and is here shunting some coaches to form a train to Porto in the early afternoon of Monday 2nd November 1970.

1970/11/02, 6. CP Henschel 1913 4-6-0 No. 292 attempts to blot out the sun with its oil-fired exhaust as it returns from the dam works at Bagausté with a works train to Régua, crossing the mixed-gauge viaduct over the Rio Corgo. Monday 2nd November 1970.

1970/11/02, 7. CP inside cylinder 4-6-0 No. 284 catches the last of the afternoon sunshine as it crosses the Corgo viaduct with the 17:35 departure from Régua to Barca d'Alva on Monday 2nd November 1970. The train is made up of fairly modern (Swiss built, by Shindler in 1949/50) coaches which had large windows that could be opened half-way downwards, and also folding doors which could be left open even when the train was in motion - it was even permissible to sit on the steps of these doors as the train travelled!

1970/11/02, 8. An unidentified metre-gauge Henschel 2-4-6-0T Mallet crosses the viaduct over the Rio Corgo as it departs from Régua for Chaves with the 17:45 mixed train. Note the first vehicle is the water carrier wagon, possibly bound for Carrazedo. Despite the fact that the sun has almost set, some local women are still doing their washing by the river! Monday 2nd November 1970.

1970/11/02, 9. When in Régua, I stayed at the Pensão Borges where some of the bedrooms overlooked the engine shed. This meant that you virtually got no sleep as you had to keep leaping out of bed to see what was going on! On the night of Monday 2nd November 1970 these engines were "on shed" - from left to right - E207's bunker just enters the shot, then broad gauge station pilot 2-6-4T No. 076, visiting 2-6-4T No. 097, 4-6-0 No. 285, 2-8-4T No. 0183, 4-6-0 No. 294 and just visible, 0-6-0T No. E54.

1970/11/03, 01. The cool air of an autumn morning condenses the exhaust steam and smoke which blots out the rising sun at Régua station as the station pilots go about their business of marshalling trains. The narrow gauge pilot is E54, an 0-6-0T built by Kessler in 1889, here shunting a set of coaches including a postal van complete with post-box. Just visible in the background is 2-6-4T No. 076, the broad gauge pilot. Tuesday 3rd November 1970.

1970/11/03, 02. The sun has just risen at Régua station as the station pilots go about their business of marshalling trains. The narrow gauge pilot is E54, an 0-6-0T built by Kessler in 1889, here shunting a set of coaches including a postal van complete with post-box. Just visible in the background is 2-6-4T No. 076, the broad gauge pilot. Tuesday 3rd November 1970.

1970/11/03, 03. Régua station had two pilot locomotives, one for the metre gauge and one for the broad gauge. Here they are both seen in action in the early morning autumn sunlight, in the foreground is 0-6-0T No. E54 and in the background is 2-6-4T No. 076. Tuesday 3rd November 1970.

1970/11/03, 04. The narrow gauge station pilot at Régua was a "half-cab" 0-6-0T No. E54, built by Kessler in 1889! The crew can be seen at work as they shunt stock around at Régua for the next departure on the Corgo line to Chaves on the early morning of Tuesday 3rd November 1970.

1970/11/03, 05. CP metre gauge Henschel 2-4-6-0T Mallet No. E208 crossing the mixed-gauge viaduct over the Rio Corgo with a Corgo line passenger train, the 10:21 from Régua to Chaves. It has the branch signal at the end of the viaduct in the "off" position and will turn north as soon as it has left the bridge. In the background is the roadbridge over the Rio Douro and beyond that an abandoned lattice girder bridge. Tuesday 3rd November 1970.

1970/11/03, 06. CP inside cylinder 4-6-0 No. 285 races past Corgo's clear distant signal (a disc signal turned sideways so it can hardly be seen - on top of the post next to the telegraph pole) as it approaches Régua at 10:40 from Barca d'Alva with a train for Porto. The steam engine comes off at Régua to be replaced by a diesel for the remainder of the trip. These 4-6-0's were known as "B12's" to British enthusiasts due to their resemblance to that Great Eastern 4-6-0, though the Portuguese engines pre-dated them by a year, the six engines in the class being built by Henschel in Germany in 1910! Tuesday 3rd November 1970. Note the beautiful condition of the track and ballast - despite the fact that the railways were unfenced and used as a public footpath!

1970/11/03, 07. CP (Companhia Dos Caminhos De Ferro Portugueses - Portuguese State Railways) metre gauge 2-4-6-0T Mallet No. E214 gets a wash down from its driver at Régua engine shed in the Douro valley of northern Portugal. This engine was one of a series of this unusual wheel arrangement built by Henschel between 1911 and 1923. Tuesday 3rd November 1970.

1970/11/03, 08. Henschel inside cylinder 4-6-0 No. 286 has just been prepared for its next duty at Régua depot and positvely gleams in the mid-day sunshine as it leaves the depot and makes its way to the station to await the arrival of the 09:37 train from Porto. This arrived diesel-hauled, and after some shunting and addition of goods vehicles etc., it departed for Barca d'Alva at 12:35. Tuesday 3rd November 1970.

1970/11/03, 09. Two broad gauge engines face each other at the mixed gauge loco depot at Régua on Tuesday 3rd November 1970. In the background is Henschel 2-8-4T No. 0183, while in the foreground is Borsig 4 cylinder compound 4-6-0 No. 238, both nicely polished up.

1970/11/03, 10. 2-8-4T No. 0183 is seen reflected in the cracked glass of the oil headlamp on the bufferbeam of Borsig 4-6-0 No. 238, both sitting on shed at Régua on the morning of Tuesday 3rd November 1970.

1970/11/03, 11. Whilst 4-6-0 CP No. 286 brews up on the right of the picture, 2-6-4T No. 076 shunts some wagons and a Postal Coach to add to the 09:37 train from Porto, which was diesel hauled to Régua. Once the diesel has come off the train and the additions made, No. 286 will take the train forward to Barca d'Alva at 12:35. Note one of the engine crew having a picnic lunch while seated on a point lever in the shade of the engine! Tuesday 3rd November 1970.

1970/11/03, 12. Régua station is a hive of activity as 2-6-4T No. 076 shunts a Shell Oil tank wagon on the left while 4-6-0 No. 286 is waiting on the right to take out the train from Porto to Barca d'Alva at 12:35, once the shunting has finished. In the background is metre-gauge shunter 0-6-0T No. E54 and two Henschel 2-4-6-0T Mallets, Nos. E212 and E214 which will take the 12:30 departure for Chaves on the Corgo line. Tuesday 3rd November 1970.

1970/11/03, 13. Immaculate CP Mallet 2-4-6-0T No. E214 departs from Régua along the mixed-gauge main line to Corgo where it will turn north with its mixed train, the 12:30 to Chaves on a beautiful Autumn day, Tuesday 3rd November 1970.

1970/11/03, 14. CP Henschel 4-6-0 No. 286 starts away from Régua along the mixed-gauge track shared with the Corgo line as far as the viaduct over the Rio Corgo. This train was the 12:35 departure from Régua to Barca d'Alva. Tuesday 3rd November 1970.

1970/11/03, 15. An old stone roadway leads down from the hills through the vineyard terraces towards the Rio Corgo and Rio Douro where CP Mallet 2-4-6-0T No. E206 is crossing the viaduct over the Rio Corgo. It is at the head of a mixed train from Chaves to Régua, due to arrive at 14:46 on Tuesday 3rd November 1970.

1970/11/03, 16. CP "B12" 4-6-0 No. 281 (Henschel 1910) adds a couple of open wagons to the train that has just arrived at Régua from Porto behind a diesel loco, before heading off at 17:35 with the mixed train to Barca d'Alva. It catches the lowering sunlight on the evening of Tuesday 3rd November 1970.

1970/11/04, 1. Having opened the level-crossing gates across the railway and put chains across the road, the lady crossing-keeper is now ready with her flags to see 2-4-6-0T Mallet No. E207 away from Vila Real station with the 10:21 train from Régua to Chaves on the metre gauge Corgo Line. Wednesday 4th November 1970.

1970/11/04, 2. Henschel Mallet 2-4-6-0T No. E208 is working a mixed train towards Vila Real (due to arrive there at 13:53) near Cruzeiro, having worked up the very torturous bends from Carrazedo, the train originating at Régua. It's easy to see why Mallets were a good idea on this line! Wednesday 4th November 1970.

1970/11/05, 1. On the beautiful Autumn morning of Thursday 5th November 1970, 2-4-6-0T Mallet No. E208 arrives at Vila Real from Chaves, to form the 09:16 mixed train to Régua, a very nice clerestory balcony First Class bogie coach in the foreground.

1970/11/05, 2. Mallet 2-4-6-0T No. E205 is climbing round the loops and curves above Carrazedo station with the 10:21 train from Régua to Vila Real and Chaves. It has collected a water-carrier wagon from Carrazedo which it took to the top of the many curves here before stopping and detaching the wagon to run back to Carrazedo by gravity. Thursday 5th November 1970.

1970/11/05, 3. Mallet No. E205 has climbed round the loops and curves above Carrazedo on its way to Vila Real with the 10:21 train from Régua. It had collected a water-carrier wagon at Carrazedo and has now stopped to uncouple this wagon, the brakesman just climbing down from the Baggage Van. Once uncoupled, the train carried on its way, while the water wagon rolled by gravity back to Carrazedo, stopping at rail-side houses to fill up their water supplies as it did so! Thursday 5th November 1970.

1970/11/05, 4. The water carrier has run down by gravity under the control of the brakesman and stopped at rail-side houses at it made its way back to Carrazedo. Here, the family has filled all sorts of containers, including a large water butt no longer in the picture, and they are helping to get the wagon rolling again with the aid of crowbars! Note there is no fencing or means of isolating the house and its vegetable plot from the railway. Whether this practice still continues to this day I do not know! Thursday 5th November 1970.

1970/11/05, 5. The vines on the terraces have taken on their autumnal hues as CP metre-gauge Mallet 2-4-6-0T No. E207 rounds the curve towards Carrazedo station with a train from Régua to Vila Real. Once it restarts its train from the station, it will climb round the loops here until it passes the point where I am standing. Thursday 5th November 1970.

1970/11/05, 6. Mallet 2-4-6-0T No. E207 has stopped in the station at Carrazedo and the fireman is piling on coal for the gradients ahead round the many curves to climb out of the valley and on to Vila Real, where this train was due to arrive at 13:15. Thursday 5th November 1970.

1970/11/05, 7. Mallet 2-4-6-0T No. E207 had stopped in the station at Carrazedo and is now well into the gradients round the many curves to climb out of the valley and on to Vila Real, where this train was due to arrive at 13:15. Thursday 5th November 1970. A couple of the local population stand in the shade of a lineside tree to watch the train go by.

1970/11/05, 8. Henschel Mallet 2-4-6-0T No. E214 is at the head of a mixed train, 14:04 from Vila Real to Régua, making its way downhill near Cruzeiro on the afternoon of Thursday 5th November 1970.

1970/11/06, 01. Henschel Mallet 2-4-6-0T No. E207 arrives into Vila Real station with an early morning train from Chaves. This departed from Vila Real at 09:16 for Régua. Friday 6th November 1970.

1970/11/06, 02. The metre-gauge pilot engine at Tua was this 0-6-0T CP No. E55, built by Kessler in 1889. The early afternoon of Friday 6th November 1970 found the engine simmering in the shade of the engine "shed" alongside the station.

1970/11/06, 03. The metre-gauge pilot engine at Tua was this 0-6-0T CP No. E55, built by Kessler in 1889. The early afternoon of Friday 6th November 1970 found the engine simmering in the shade of the engine "shed" alongside the station. Sadly, in this year (2006) which sees the 150th anniversary of Portuguese Railways, this line and the other metre-gauge lines in Northern Portugal are under threat of closure by the Portuguese government. If you would like to see how the line looks today and what may be lost with closure, visit http://ocomboio.net/diaporama/linha_do_tua_2006/index.html Thanks!

1970/11/06, 04. With the railway in deep shadow on one side of the gorge and bright sunlight on the other side, this was a difficult shot to get and the result is not altogether brilliant! CP 2-6-0T No. E111 (Kessler 1907) bursts out of a tunnel and rumbles over a precarious lattice girder bridge above the Rio Tua with a train from Mirandela to Tua (arrival time 12:57), junction with the broad-gauge Douro line. Friday 6th November 1970.

1970/11/06, 05. A metre-gauge Allan diesel Railcar plus trailer arriving into Tua with a train from Bragança and Mirandela on Friday 6th November 1970.

1970/11/06, 06. CP 4-6-0 No. 292 (Henschel 1913) comes across the viaduct over the Rio Tua approaching Tua station, alongside the Rio Douro, with a mixed train from Régua which will depart from Tua at 13:40 for Barca d'Alva, having made connections with the narrow gauge Tua line to Mirandela. Friday 6th November 1970.

1970/11/06, 07. CP 2-8-4T No. 0183 pauses at Tua station with a mixed train from Barca d'Alva which it hauled as far as Régua, where diesel traction took over for the remainder of the journey to Porto. The train consists of several boxvans, a postal coach, baggage van and several passenger coaches. Plenty of produce seems to be piled on the platform, either about to be loaded, or having just been unloaded. Friday 6th November 1970. The smoke in the background is from engines at the metre gauge depot.

1970/11/06, 08. CP 2-8-4T No. 0183 starts its mixed train away from Tua towards Porto. The metre-gauge Tua line can be seen climbing away from the station before it takes to the Rio Tua valley and heads for Mirandela. Friday 6th November 1970.

1970/11/06, 09. Part of the mixed train departing from Tua at 13:57 behind 2-8-4T No. 0183 was this lovely old

1970/11/06, 10. The crew of CP Metre gauge 2-6-0T No. E111 (built by Kessler in 1907) pose with their engine at Tua, having just made up the train, the 14:45 "Misto" (mixed train) to Mirandela on Friday 6th November 1970. What a wonderful collection of rolling stock is alongside in the siding!

1970/11/06, 11. The crew of CP metre-gauge 2-6-0T No. E111 (built by Kessler in 1907) pose with their engine at Tua, having just made up the train, the 14:45 "Misto" (mixed train) to Mirandela on Friday 6th November 1970.

1970/11/06, 12. CP Metre gauge 2-6-0T No. E111 (built by Kessler in 1907) poses at Tua, having just made up the train, the 14:45 "Misto" (mixed train) to Mirandela on Friday 6th November 1970.

1970/11/06, 13. CP metre-gauge 2-6-0T No. E111 (built by Kessler in 1907) blasts its way up the climb out of the Douro valley at Tua, having just connected with a broad gauge train at the junction station. The train is the 14:45 "Misto" (mixed train) to Mirandela on Friday 6th November 1970.

1970/11/06, 14. Now later in the afternoon and 0-6-0T No. E55 moves alongside the coal and water facilities at Tua narrow-gauge station, to be prepared for a bout of shunting for the next train. Friday 6th November 1970.

1970/11/06, 15. Kessler 0-6-0T No. E55 is now going about its shunting duties as station pilot at Tua narrow-gauge station, making up trains for later dispatch on the afternoon of Friday 6th November 1970.

1970/11/07. Seen from the 12:32 mixed train from Pocinho to Porto, hauled by "B12" No. 286, classmate No. 285 is waiting in the loop at Ferradosa Station with an eastbound mixed train. In the background is the viaduct over the Rio Douro, taking the railway onto the northern side. This viaduct has been demolished since the new dam was built further downstream, only the abutments still stand. The railway now continues for a little further on the north bank before crossing a new concrete viaduct, to a rebuilt Ferradosa Station. The old station still exists and the road in the background of this shot now uses the old trackbed to form a new access road to Taylor’s Port Quinta at Vargelas (where the station is within the vineyard!). Saturday 7th November 1970. Note the very lightweight track - this was the reason for steam's survival in this area, the track being unable to take the axle-loading of the diesels until it was all relaid.

1970/11/08, 01. One of the 1400 series of English Electric Bo-Bo diesels is at the head of this wonderful train of antique matchboard wooden bodied four-wheel coaches with end balconies, about to depart northwards from Contumil station. Where it had come from and where it was going remain a mystery! The locomotive depot can be seen in the distance. Sunday 8th November 1970.

1970/11/08, 02. CP 2-8-4T No. 0184 (Henschel 1925) speeds past Contumil locomotive depot as it heads towards Porto Campanhã with the 08:55 train from Braga on Sunday 8th November 1970.

1970/11/08, 03. CP 2-8-4T No. 0184 (Henschel 1925) speeds past Contumil locomotive depot as it heads towards Porto Campanhã with the 08:55 train from Braga on Sunday 8th November 1970. An EMU of stainless steel stock can be seen in the sidings at the depot.

1970/11/08, 04. CP 4 cylinder compound 2-8-0 No. 754 was the last working survivor of the class built by Schwartzkopf between 1913 to 1925, here resting between duties on shed at Contumil depot on Sunday 8th November 1970.