Mule cars

The Portuenses are quite fond of their trams. This model of mule-car 8 was made for the parade of São Bartolomeu.

The first Porto trams were introduced in 1872 and hauled by mules. This kind of animal traction power was used until 1904. Mule cars were also used as trailers with the steamtrams and later with the electric motortrams. The surviving mulecar 8 even until the 1960's.

Little knowledge did survive about the oldest types of trams. Of some the constructor and construction year are known. But of other types only photos do prove they have existed.

The mules were most of the times used in pairs. To climb steep streets one or two pairs of mules were added to a total of four or six mules. On these routes only small types of tramcars were used.

In 1874 the following cars were acquired by the CCFP from Starbuck via Gunston, sons & co:

2 carruagens c 20 passageiros dentro com imperial 10 ditas c 20 passageiros (fechados)
2 ditas c assentos transversaes 1 ditas c assentos aos lados/aberta 1 ditas c assentos ao meio
12 carruagens c 12 passageiros dentro (fechadas)

In 1875 notes about the acquiring of 3 more cars from Starbuck and 2 from Belgium were found and in Feb/March 1876 the acquiring of 2 cars from France.

However the composition of the fleet of the CCFP described in a letter of 31-Mar-1876, is not fitting for all types:

12 voitures fermées 21 personnes
14 voitures ouvertes 30 personnes
2 voitures á imperiale 56 personnes
4 voitures ouvertes 45 personnes
2 voitures ouvertes 30 personnes

According to this letter Starbuck delivered most of this fleet: 10 closed cars, both imperial cars and 16 open cars. Two open and two closed cars came from the Societé Metallurgique Charbonnièr Belges, and two other open cars from Leon et Eugene Deletrez (Paris). The last two were acquired in 1875 and open with transverse seats. Of one of the closed cars of Metallurgique a photo does exist on which can be seen the car did have the number 31. Also of imperial car no.6 and closed car numbers 11 & 29 photos are known. All these cars are of the 7-window "22-type" and must have been built by Starbuck.

Probably in 1875/6 the cars 35-42 were acquired. In a letter of 19-7-1875 the cars with the nos 33, 34 e 35 were noted to be of the closed type. But according to another source, the cars with the numbers 34, 35, 36 & 39 were open.

The cars 44 & 45 were new constructed by the workshops in 1879.

In 1882 the number of passenger cars was raised from 45 to 51 by acquiring and reconstruction of 6 cars of the Larmanjat system. These got the numbers 46-51.

In 1883 the workshops constructed car no.52, in 1885 no.53 (a closed car)

For 1885 the annual report gives a specification of the different types of cars:

20 carros fechados grandes (closed large)
9 carros fechados medianos (closed middle)
13 carros fechados pequenos (closed small)
1 carro grande com imperial (large with imperial)
10 carros abertos (open)

In 1887 the series 54-57 was made by the workshops, in 1889 the 58, in 1890 the 59 & 60 and in 1891 the 61 & 62.

In the 1880's until the merging with Carril Americano, the number of mules owned by the CCFP fluctuated around 250-260.

Of the oldest company, the Carril Americano, it is only known that on the moment of merging with the CCFP in 1893, they owned 31 mule cars of many different types, 6 freight cars and 202 mules.

Part of the mulecars were converted into electric trams, while the others were retained as trailers for the steamtram and the electric trams.

A small 5-window mule car is prepared to climb the Rua de Mouzinho da Silveira. Two pairs of mules are added. The car is equal with museumcar 8, but with shorter platforms.