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Soller Railway

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neildimmer

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I have added some photos given to me by David Heath of the
Soller Railway which runs from Palma to Soller it is 27Km long Built 1912

The electric locos built in Loughborough, anyone have any further info on them please?

http://railway-photography.smugmug....pain/Soller-Railway-Palma-to-Soller/i-QjTpq2k
http://railway-photography.smugmug....pain/Soller-Railway-Palma-to-Soller/i-DMZKnTn
http://railway-photography.smugmug....pain/Soller-Railway-Palma-to-Soller/i-fgCGncT
http://railway-photography.smugmug....pain/Soller-Railway-Palma-to-Soller/i-vv6BmCT

Neil
 
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HowardGWR

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I can't give you an answer to the above directly but, using Google, I have, in the past, discovered web sites that had a lot of historical info. Use 'Majorcan railways' rather than 'Soller' or that word in addition.

Just on the line itself, unfortunately, following the building of the road tunnel through to Soller, it became uncompetitive with road. The owners decided that the only way out was to make deals with tour companies and so some of the trains (morning out from Palma, afternoon / evening back from Soller) are jam-packed with tourists, who then transfer in droves onto the tram to the port, suitably augmented with extra coaches.

I found the old atmosphere greatly damaged by this, and staying in Soller, we would walk to the bus depot and get the bus into the port, especially as, not only that, but the tram people charge hefty fares, and only if you are a local, can you get a book of cheap tickets. The bus was cheap.

My info is from 2011 and we will be going back later this year (despite the above!!).
 

johnnychips

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Yes, watch out what time it is and get the local bus (210 rings a bell?) in one direction and the train in the other.
 

Gordon

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.

The motor cars aka electric railcars are not locomotives in usual English railway parlance and were not built in Loughborough.

The line opened in 1912 and was electrified in 1929, since when the railcars have operated continuously.

This makes it one of the most 'original' railway operations in Europe
 

stuartmoss

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Here's a film I took of and from the Soller Railway in 2010, it's definitely worth going on, but go early as it gets busy in Summer.

[youtube]inB73kFKGIU[/youtube]​
 

rg177

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Worth a visit but busy in Summer.

I did it last year from Alcudia. The 354 bus takes a decidedly scary route around the mountains. Quite a view from the front.

Ticket selling for the train wasn't until shortly before departure but the train wasn't overly packed. Then for me it was onwards for a train to Inca for the 351 back to Alcudia...
 

tds42

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When we went a few years ago we got the first train of the day (~7am I think) and it was practically empty, we had the carriage to ourselves. On the return we caught an extra service they were advertising with notes taped at the station. That one was jam packed so it was well worth the early start
 

Gordon

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Two key tips for Soller

1) stay in Soller or Port de Soller and take the train the opposite way round to most tour parties
2) Go early season

We did both in 2005, going in February

The trouble is it was unseasonably cold. One advantage was the good photographic light and the fact that I got a picture of the tram at Soller in snow!
 

steamybrian

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Thanks for the films and information
I have booked one week holiday in Majorca (staying about 5km from Palma) commencing 1st September so will be looking forward to visiting the railway.
 

Gordon

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When we went a few years ago we got the first train of the day (~7am I think)

From which end?

I don't recall the exact timetable from my trip 10 years ago but there certainly isn't a very early train from the Palma end now. The depot is at the Soller end hence the first train of the day being from that end, and the last train being from Palma end.


http://www.trendesoller.com/en/cms.php/Timetable_and_Prices




.
 

tds42

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It was from the Palma side. I had a look at that timetable and it made me check.

We went in 2012 and the departure was 0800, I thought it was earlier as it was a one hour bus ride in to Palma for us.

Luckily, the wayback machine has archives of the timetable page, so I was able to check that my mind wasn't playing tricks on me

https://web.archive.org/web/2012080...desoller.com/en/cms.php/Timetable_and_Prices?

The train wasn't at the station platform when we got there in the morning, but it may have been in the sidings?


When we got to Soller they had signs saying they would be running an extra service back from Soller, it was between the 1430 and 1800, and all seats were taken.
 

Gordon

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It was from the Palma side. I had a look at that timetable and it made me check.

We went in 2012 and the departure was 0800, I thought it was earlier as it was a one hour bus ride in to Palma for us.

Luckily, the wayback machine has archives of the timetable page, so I was able to check that my mind wasn't playing tricks on me

https://web.archive.org/web/2012080...desoller.com/en/cms.php/Timetable_and_Prices?

The train wasn't at the station platform when we got there in the morning, but it may have been in the sidings?


When we got to Soller they had signs saying they would be running an extra service back from Soller, it was between the 1430 and 1800, and all seats were taken.

That's an interesting (and not entirely welcome) policy change to move the first trains from Palma back by 2.5 hours

Thanks for the Wayback tip - I wasn't awar of such a feature
 
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