Funicular de Guindais
The first funicular of 1891
On June 4th 1891 a funicular was opened at
Guindais by the Parceria dos Elevadores do Porto. The lower
end was at Ribeira near the lower deck of the Ponte Luiz I,
the upper end in Rua de Augusto Rosa, near Praça da
Batalha. The line was divided in two parts. One car made
journeys over the whole length of the line, which was 412 m.
On the lower and steep part of the line was next to the main
track a second track with a length of 114 m. When the main
car had to travel the lower steep part, a second car on the
second track counter-balanced. A steam engine housed in a
building at the top of the second track propelled the cars
by cables. The main car had three cabins on a joined truck.
The cabins were kept horizontal over the whole trip. The
second car had a single step-type cabin.Two years after opening (June 5th 1893) a serious accident did happen resulting in a runaway of the second car. Although repairs were done, the line was not opened again.
The second funicular of 2004
On the same location a new funicular was build, which was
opened on February 19th 2004. This funicular is of the
common design: single track with a crossing-point in the
middle and two cars counter-balancing each other.The cars have a capacity of 25 persons each. This funicular has a length of 282 m, the elevation is 71 m. The lower half is in the open air and has an inclination of 55%, the upper half is in a tunnel and almost plane. The lower station is on the same place as of the first funicular. The upper station is in Rua de Augusto Rosa near Rua de Saraiva de Carvalho. The cabins of both cars remain horizontal during the whole trip. The funicular is operated by the Metro do Porto.
