Freight and works trams
Probably about 1900 two electric freight trams were build with Brill 21E trucks and Walker electric equipments. Maybe first numbered 1-2 they likely were about 1903 renumbered to 81-82. In 1903 three more electric freight trams were constructed. They were indicated as “waggons eléctricos” and got the numbers 83-85. In 1904 no.86 was added to the fleet. According to the annual reports of 1905-07 there were 3 “wagons eléctricos cobertos” and 2 “wagons eléctricos abertos”. It seems one of the first electric freight cars had only a short life. In 1905 the zorras were renumbered into the 220-series.For the transport of coal from the mines in São Pedro da Cova to the new power plant in Massarelos as well as for the removal of the ashes a large fleet of new open electric freight trams was required. During these years there also existed commercial freight traffic by tram on behalve of dozens of customers. In 1919 the fleet counted 29 vehicles:
- 220 - one wagon 5.5 t antigo
- 221-222 - two wagons 6 t Companhia Alliança (1910) with GE80 motors
- 223-224 - two wagons 6 t antigo
- 225-226 - two zorras 10 t
- 227-230 - four zorras 6 t A Constructora (1910) with GE80 motors
- 231-236 - six zorras 6 t Companhia Alliança (1910) with Siemens motors
- 237-248 - twelve zorras 6 t Companhia Alliança (1913) with GE80 motors
In 1924 the freight trams were renumbered in the 300-series. On 31 December 1925 there were 28 zorras. Two zorras motoras went lost in the Boavista fire of 1928. In 1929 three new zorras were constructed. The same year the fleet was renumbered in the series 50-79. On 9 September 1931 there were 27 zorras. In 1932 a motorcar for overhead wiring repair was constructed. In 1939 two new zorras were constructed, On 19 February 1940 there were 2 10-tons and 26 6-tons zorras. Both in 1943 and 1946 one new zorra was constructed.
The STCP constructed in 1949 another 2 new zorras, again 2 in 1950 as replacements for 2 others and finally in 1951 a zorra with a body of iron. In the 1950’s the STCP had still 31 freight and works cars. With the closure of the Massarelos power plant, the competition of road vehicles for commercial freight transport and the almost vanishing of the trams, also most of the zorras and vagões disappeared. Overhead wire repair car 49 and the zorras 58 & 66 are part of the museum collection, grinder car 48, break-down assistance car 76 and zorra 77 are still available but see hardly use anymore.
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Photos
Zorra no.60 in São Pedro da Cova