Start: to Foz and Matosinhos

(1872-1914)

The first (mule tram) line was opened March 9 (official opening festival May 15), 1872 by the "Companhia Carril Americano do Porto à Foz e Matosinhos". The line, allways 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. In the city there was a second terminus "Carmo", which was reached through the steep "Rua da Restauração" and branched of from the Marginal-line at Massarelos. In 1884 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 - Foz (Castelo) - Castelo do Queijo - Matosinhos (Brito Capelo) - Leça da Palmeira

• Linha da Restauração: Carmo - Massarelos

A second company, the "Companhia Carris de Ferro do Porto" (CCFP), did also start a (mule tram) line between "Carmo" and "Foz". In Foz a tram station was built: "Cadouços". This line was inaugurated August 12, 1874 and followed the route:

• Carmo - Carvalhosa - Boavista - Fonte da Moura- Foz (Cadouços)

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.

In 1878 (August 11) the mules on the CCFP-line between Boavista and Foz were replaced by steamlocomotives. 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 steamtram were hauled by mules between Boavista and Carmo - Praça D.Pedro V - Campanhã. The tracks of the steamtram 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 abondened in favor for the direct route via the Avenida da Boavista.

Many years later, after the fusion of both companies, the Restauração (1895) and Marginal (1896-1898) were the first to be electrified.

Network 1874

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