A Constructora
"A Constructora", also known as "Campos e Moraes", was a local company doing all kind of construction and maintenance works. Building rail vehicles was only part of their business. For the CCFP new tramcars were build for passengers as well as freight, and existing tramcars were reconstructed. In 1900 four new tramcars were made of the existing 7-window Transformado type. In the years 1901-1903 six tramcars were build of a new type with five windows.A Constructora cars with 6 windows
Constructora tram with 6 windows around 1905 at
Infante
In 1904-1906 A Constructora delivered 24 cars with six windows at both sides. The trucks came from Brill, the electric equipments from Siemens. These were the last “Risca ao Meio” type cars. The capacity was 22 seats on 2 benches of 5.22 m. They were numbered 43-54, 57-66 and 68-69. Car 46 was used in 1907 for reconstruction into a 7-window car. In February 1940 there were still nine, a total of seven made it to the STCP where they were numbered 105-111. One survives as museum car 163, another as works car 48.
Constructora tram with 6 windows around 1947 at
Boavista
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A Constructora cars with 7 windows
In 1907 A Constructora made two new cars with seven windows at each side and seating for 23 on transverse benches. These cars got the numbers 199-200. In the same period the workshops of the CCFP converted car no.46 as well into a similar 7-window car. This car got the number 201 and seems to have had little shorter platforms. Finally in 1909 A Constructora made a more or less similar body. This was done without having a confirmed order of the CCFP, probably trying to get the order for the new cars the latter was intending to make. A Constructora failed to get this order but finally the CCFP acquired the body and used it for electric tramcar no.250. This car was the last getting open platforms. All later acquirements involved cars with closed platforms. Probably it was a little different from the other three and a short version of bogie trailer no.1.In later years these cars were often considered to be cars of the Brill-23 type. Three of them came to the STCP who numbered them 112-114. It is not clear what happened to the fourth.
STCP 114 around 1975
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Bogie trailers
The body of trailer 1 was, together with the small body which was used for CE 250, made in 1909 by A Constructora without having received a firm order. After some discussion the CCFP acquired both bodies and used the large one for trailer 1. Six more large bodies were ordered from A Constructora together with bogies from Brill. The trailers 2-7 came into service in 1911/12. These trailers were originally equipped with air brakes. They spent all of their live working on line 1 between Infante and Leixões, at first towed by 4-wheel cars, later behind the bogie cars.
Bogie trailer no.6 in Rua Brito Capelo,
Matosinhos around 1920
In 1918 there was a proposal to convert these trailers into motor cars. This plan was never realised. Their original open platforms were enclosed around 1948. In 1960 they were withdrawn from daily working. During the months July and August (weekends only) until 1966, they were used for leisure traffic on line 1 to the beaches. Trailer no.1 is part of the museum collection.
Trailer 1 in 2000