Tag: Lisbon
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601-612 Estrela
These domed-roof trams with seats for 28 were buiIt by Brill in 1927 for the Estrela line. The 21ESL trucks came from Maley & Taunton. They had large sliding side windows, which made that only half of the windows could be opened. It made these cars unpopular. 601 and 612 (at least) were reposted as…
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508-531 Pequenos semi-convertiveis – Small semi-convertibles – Carris
These tramcars were built by Carris in 1924-26. They were true semi-convertibles, with clerestory roofs containing window pockets, although when built Carris considered this type already as closed. Four cars (524, 525, 527 & 531) were later fitted with Metrovick motors, and Dick, Kerr controllers.
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500-502 Radiax
Brill built these closed tramcars with drop windows and 26-seats. The bodies were a longer version of the small closed Brill trams that Brill delivered to Lisbon in the same period. These three trams entered service in March 1914 and were mounted on Brill Radiax E1 trucks. Radiax (radial axle) trucks were developed by Brill…
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476-499 + 502-507 Pequenos fechados – Small closed trams – Brill
These closed tramcars were built by Brill. They had 20 seats and drop windows similar to the São Luís trams 400-474, but with more rounded ends and windscreens. 476-482 entered service in 1912, the others in 1914. 485-499 were used on the newly electrified Estrela line and had electro magnetic track brakes and Dick, Kerr…
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475 O Cruzador
Tram no.475 was a semi-convertible car built in 1909 by the Carris workshops on a Brill 21E truck. No photos are known of this car, but drawings show a typical Brill semi-convertible car with six windows. Because of its width and height, both more than the São Luís cars, it was nicknamed “O Cruzador” (The…
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363-367 Carros do Povo
These 1907 Brill built bogie cars were for the low-fare Carros do Povo service between Santo Amaro and Intendente. The windows had originally no glass but only vertically-striped canvas shades. The large platforms were at the same height as the saloon floor and they had two steps at each entrance. The interiors were fitted with…
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323-362 Grandes semi-convertiveis – Saloons
These saloon bogie cars were the first Lisboa cars of the patented Brill “grooveless post” semi-convertible design which proved very suitable in Lisboa’s sunny climate. The window sashes slid upwards into the coving of the clerestory roof. Of these forty tramcars twenty bodies were made by Brill and the other twenty by John Stephenson of…
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400-474 Pequenos fechados – Small closed trams – São Luís
The bodies of these tramcars were ordered from the St Louis Car Company in November 1899, and had full-drop windows. The trucks were ordered in September 1900 from Brill. They arrived in May and June 1901 and entered service the same year. These trams were indicated as “pequenos fechados” (small closed) but also known as…
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283-322 Grandes abertos – Large open trams
These large open cars were built by Brill. Like usual they were sent “knocked down” to save on the shipping costs, and had to be assembled by the Carris workshops in Lisboa. The first batch of ten cars arrived early January 1902 and the first of these cars was tested on the 27th of that…
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The electric trams of Lisboa
From 1900 to 1914 the tram company Carris de Ferro de Lisboa imported trams from America in dismantled form and assembled them locally in the workshops. Since 1925 Carris built cars to its own design, using trucks and equipment purchased in Britain and reconditioned trucks and equipment of older cars. From 1947 to 1963 the…
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The Lisboa cable trams
Lisboa is built on hills. Mule or horse trams could only go up the steep gradients with the use of extra animals. As the animals were the largest cost of the whole tram operations, it was a too costly affair to have many or long steep inclines within the network. In 1873 in San Francisco…
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The funiculars of Lisboa
The Lisboa funiculars, in Portugal called ascensor or elevador, are part of the urban public transport system. All three were first operated by the NCAML, the same company that also operated the Estrela and Graça cable tramlines. The funiculars are now operated by the CCFL. As the funiculars are in public streets, the cable is…
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Trams on the steep slopes of Lisbon
Question: I have just visted Lisbon and did a tourist tram ride. I have spent the last couple of days trying to find details of how the trams manage the very steep hills as the slopes are much steeper than I would expect. Can you signpost any internet sights for me. Answer: I’m not sure…