Monte Railway

The Monte Railway (Portuguese: Caminho de Ferro do Monte) (commonly known as the Monte train or Monte Lift) was a rack railway connecting Pombal, in Funchal, to Terreiro da Luta in Monte (Madeira, Portugal), a distance of 3,911 metres, from 1893 to April 1943.[1]

Monte Railway
Train pulling out of Pombal Station in Funchal
Overview
Native nameCaminho de Ferro do Monte
LocalePortugal
TerminiFunchal
Terreiro da Luta
Operation
Opened16 July 1893 (1893-07-16)
ClosedApril 1943
Technical
Line length3.9 km (2.4 mi)
Highest elevation850 m (2,790 ft)
Route map
Pombal Station Funchal
Levada de Santa Luzia
Livramento
Sant'Ana
Flamengo
Confeitaria
Monte (Largo da Fonte)
Terreiro da Luta

The Funchal Cable Car was built in 2000 and does not follow the old route of the Monte railway.

History

Monte Station

Project and construction

The railway was designed in 1886, by engineer Raoul Mesnier du Ponsard. The idea of building the railway came from António Joaquim Marques, who obtained permission from Funchal council on 17 February 1887.[2][3] There was also a horsecar (known in Portuguese as the Caminhos de Ferro Americanos da Cidade do Funchal), which took passengers to the Pombal station from the pier.

Decline

Train after the boiler exploded on 10 September 1919.

References

  1. "Funchal railway line". Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  2. Tolentino da NÓBREGA: “Funchal reabilita antigo caminho-de-ferro: Concuso público a nível europeu” Público (local) (2003.10.03): p.50
  3. Octaviano Correia: (2007.09.08).
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