Depots and Power Plants

Except for rails and overhead wires, trams also need depots and workshops for maintenance. In Porto for a long period the electric energy was generated by dedicated power plants.

The oldest tramcompany, the Companhia Carril, had a depot at the river called Ouro at Largo António Calém. This complex was still in use after the merging of both companies.

The second company, the Companhia Carris, did have several stations. One was at the first end of their line to Foz: Cadouços. Except for the tramservice, here also was a restaurant owned by the CCFP. At Fonte da Moura was a small station. For the exploitation of the urban mule tram network, beside Boavista, there was also a depot at Bolhão. This was closed with the electrification of the network.

Boavista

The most important site of the classic Porto tram was Boavista. Already with the opening of the second line in 1874, here the headquarters of the CCFP were located. It was the home of mule trams, steam trams and electric trams. In 1901 Boavista was connected to the electric network and became depot for the line Boavista - Campanhã. In 1903 the workshops were moved to Boavista and this site also became the major depot for the electric trams.
On 30 November 1874 the stable of Boavista was destroyed by a tempest. Five men were wounded and 60 mules were killed or severely wounded. Services were suspended for several days. Boavista suffered twice from fire. The first time was on 3 November 1876 and the second time on 27 February 1928. No data are known about damage caused by the first fire but this was presumably limited. With the second fire the paint shops and the Western part of the depot was destroyed together with 21 motorcars, 4 trailers, 2 zorras and 1 zorra trailer. Which cars exactly were destroyed is not known, but probably most were of the older types. Two days after the 1928 fire the trams of the lines 1 and 16 were moved to Massarelos to return to Boavista only two years later.

During the years Boavista was several times reconstructed. Finally at had 20 depot tracks.

With the reduction of the tramservices the importance of Boavista was reduced. In 1988 Boavista was replaced by Massarelos as running depot. Workshops retained in Boavista. Also tramcars which were out of use were still in storage here. Due to road-works, Boavista was used for some periods again as running depot: March - July 1991, June - November 1998 and February - May 1999. In August 1999 Boavista was finally completely evacuated and demolished. On the location is now the Casa da Música (Music Hall).

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Arrábida

Electricity was for a long period generated by CCFP owned power plants. The first power plant was located at Arrábida. The coal was delivered by ship. Arrábida was also used as depot and workshops for the first electric trams and their trailers. Around 1910 the CCFP decided to built a new power plant at Massarelos and Arrábida was closed in 1915. The old buildings at Arrábida did get other industrial use, but were demolished in 2000.

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Massarelos

In 1912 the CCFP inaugurated the new generating station at Massarelos. The coal came from a mine in São Pedro da Cova and was brought by electric open freight trams called zorras. Next to the power plant was a small depot, mainly to be used by these coal trams. The necessary coal for Massarelos came from the mines in São Pedro da Cova. At first the coal was transported from the mine by a rope-way to Venda Nova and from there with zorras to Massarelos. Since 1917 the mine had a connection with the tram network.

In 1933 almost 44.400 tons of coal were used. With a load of 6000 kg this means about 7400 zorra trips from S.Pedro da Cova to Massarelos or on average 20.3 trips each day. As the coal of São Pedro da Cova was of poor quality, also about 11-12 zorras must have left Massarelos each day for removal of the ashes to the dump places. To monitor the amount of coal, and probably also ash, in 1911 a weight bridge pattern no.524 with 20 tons capacity was ordered from Henry Pooley & son Ltd, John Brightstreet, Birmingham.
In the 1950's the STCP changed for electricity from the grid and the Massarelos power station went out of use in 1957.

Since 1991 the buildings are lodging the tram museum. The small depot is in use as running depot since 1988. With the final closure of Boavista also all cars in storage and the workshops are concentrated at Massarelos.

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São Pedro da Cova

A small power plant existed at São Pedro da Cova from 1918 until 1929. It was replaced by a substation at Santa Eulália.

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Substations

Besides the large generating stations Arrábida and Massarelos also substations situated on strategic places were used. The CCFP did install these at Massarelos, Castelo do Queijo, Telheira, Contumil, Corpo da Guarda and Santa Eulália. With change for the 15 kV supply from the grid, the STCP installed 12 new sub stations.

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