Porto & the Douro Valley

[MajesticTrains]

Hello, I'm off to Portugal next month, specifically Porto with the intention of bashing the Douro valley. I was wondering if anyone here knows of any freight or special movements that regularly happen on the line. I'm aware of the passenger timetable already, and the weekend historic trains.

Furthermore, if anyone knows what other rail related activities might be worth a day trip, please let me know. I'm already booked on the Vouga line historic train. I'm particularly interested in CP locomotive hauled services that are not hauled by the 5600s, or any regular freight moves by private operators.

Thanks for any help.

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

Some services from Porto to Valença on the Spanish border are loco-hauled with 'Nez Cassé' 2600/2620s - quite a reasonable excursion.

In Porto you have one tram route and museum down by the river - the city-centre route is suspended at the moment due to metro construction.

 

[43096]

Hello, I'm off to Portugal next month, specifically Porto with the intention of bashing the Douro valley. I was wondering if anyone here knows of any freight or special movements that regularly happen on the line. I'm aware of the passenger timetable already, and the weekend historic trains.

Furthermore, if anyone knows what other rail related activities might be worth a day trip, please let me know. I'm already booked on the Vouga line historic train. I'm particularly interested in CP locomotive hauled services that are not hauled by the 5600s, or any regular freight moves by private operators.

Thanks for any help.

The IR services north of Porto towards Valenca are hauled by CP 2600/2620 locos on refurbished ex-Spanish stock. There is also one daily working south of Porto in an evening, returning the next morning.

 

[Whisky Papa]

I enjoyed a visit to the narrow-gauge museum next to Lousado station, at the junction of the lines from Porto to Braga and Guimarães, along with the tram museum in Porto mentioned at #2. And surely São Bento has to rank amongst highly on anyone's list of favourite stations?

Personally I found the Porto metro lines quite fascinating, despite their modern stock, particularly the line out to Vila do Conde in the north, but accept this may not be everybody's interest.

 

[Iskra]

I enjoyed a visit to the narrow-gauge museum next to Lousado station, at the junction of the lines from Porto to Braga and Guimarães, along with the tram museum in Porto mentioned at #2. And surely São Bento has to rank amongst highly on anyone's list of favourite stations?

Personally I found the Porto metro lines quite fascinating, despite their modern stock, particularly the line out to Vila do Conde in the north, but accept this may not be everybody's interest.

It has possibly changed now, but in October Sao Bento was a construction site, with lots of hoardings around the outside, so may not currently be viewed at its best.

 

[Giugiaro]

The busiest part in terms of freight services is between Vila Nova de Gaia - Devesas and Contumil. Mostly Euro 4000 and Europrinters, but occasionally, the ex-MLW No. 1964 is around.

 

[30907]

The only freight on the Douro is cement to/from Godim just short of Regua - Google will give you more info

 

[Giugiaro]

The only freight on the Douro is cement to/from Godim just short of Regua - Google will give you more info

There is wood, cement and sand to Irivo, plus wood and containers to São Martinho do Campo.

 

[30907]

There is wood, cement and sand to Irivo, plus wood and containers to São Martinho do Campo.

Thanks, I was thinking of the Douro valley, as I imagine the OP was, rather than the suburban area.