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To Foz and Matosinhos (1872-1914)

The first (mule tram) line was opened March 9th, 1872 by the "Companhia Carril Americano do Porto à Foz e Matosinhos". The line, always known as the "Marginal", had a terminus in the city at "Rua dos Ingleses" (nowadays "Infante") and followed the border of the river to the coastal village of "Foz do Douro" (which means mouth of the river Douro). From there the line followed the coast to the town of Matosinhos. The official opening festival May 15th was done when the part between Foz and Matosinhos came into service. The part between Rua dos Ingleses and Alfândega was opened about the end of May or early June.
In the city there was a second terminus "Cordoaria", which was reached through the steep "Rua da Restauração" and branched of from the Marginal-line at Massarelos. This branch-line was opened in 1873. In 1887 the Marginal was extended to Leça da Palmeira. With this the network of the oldest tramcompany of Portugal was completed:
  • Linha Marginal: Infante - Alfândega - Massarelos - Ouro - Foz (Castelo) - Castelo do Queijo - Matosinhos (Brito Capelo) - Leça da Palmeira
  • Linha da Restauração: Cordoaria - Massarelos
Many years later, after the merging of the CCAPFM with the CCFP, the Restauração (1895) and Marginal (1896-1898) were the first to be electrified.

A second company, the "Companhia Carris de Ferro do Porto" (CCFP), did start a (mule tram) line between "Praça Carlos Alberto" and "Foz". In Foz a tram station was built: "Cadouços". This line was inaugurated August 12, 1874 and followed the route:
  • Praça Carlos Alberto - Carvalhosa - Boavista - Fonte da Moura- Foz (Cadouços)
Already in November 1874 the line was extended from Praça Carlos Alberto to Porta do Olival (Cordoaria near Torre dos Clerigos) Because of geographical circumstances, this company was popular known as "Companhia de Cima" (upper company) and the older one as "Companhia de Baixo" (lower company). On the map is shown the 1874 situation, when both companies had their first lines opened.

Porto 1874

In 1878 (August 11) on the CCFP-line between Boavista and Foztraction by steam locomotives was introduced. For several years the service on this line was provided by steam locomotives during the busier periods and mules during quit times. In 1882 the line was extended:
  • Boavista - Fonte da Moura- Foz (Cadouços) - Rua do Tunel - Rua de Gonderem - Castelo do Queijo - Matosinhos (Roberto Ivens)
Through services did exist between Matosinhos, Foz and several urban destinations. The trailers of the steam-tram were hauled by mules between Boavista and Porta do Olival - Praça D.Pedro V - Campanhã. The tracks of the steam-tram and the Marginal did cross each other just south of Castelo do Queijo and did continue parallel to each other into Matosinhos. On 9 November 1914 the steam traction was replaced by electricity, although the route between Fonte da Moura via Cadouços to Castelo do Queijo was abandoned in favor for the direct route via the Avenida da Boavista.
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