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Abandoned Portugal

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DC10

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We are looking to do a photographic trip through Portugal of abandoned bridges and stations - Any advice for abandoned areas of interest would be greatly appreciated.
 
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Giugiaro

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Half the railways are abandoned, so there's plenty to watch.

On the map, whatever is green is completely abandoned, and what is pink is being rebuilt is some way currently.

There's also plenty of unused buildings and other structures throughout the country.
 

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DC10

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I'm very grateful to you, many thanks this will be of great help.
Sorry to ask but you clearly have more knowledge on this subject than I - Two areas of interest to us are;
Abandoned bridges and we heard about about an abandoned line from Portugal to Spain going through a mountainside.
Your thoughts on this area greatly appreciated.
 

Giugiaro

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Abandoned bridges and we heard about an abandoned line from Portugal to Spain going through a mountainside.

That description is the Douro Line from Pocinho to La Fuente de San Esteban. Most of the abandoned bridges are on the Spanish side, East of Barca d'Alva and the Luso-Spanish border.

You might want to lease a car or bring your own to go to these places. There's no way you can find public transport to get to and from there on the same day!

https://plus.google.com/photos/photo/113796495576255966680/6636414820712209426

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linha_do_Douro
 
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DC10

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Thank you for the information and links, this is exactly the area we heard about and need to visit.
I'd like to keep in contact with you if that is okay, your knowledge on these areas is outstanding.
Thank you again.
 

Cowley

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No problem. Anything in particular just PM me.
The photo of the viaduct that you linked was amazing.
I'm not too bad with heights, but even I'd think twice before crossing that. :lol:
 

Giugiaro

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Believe me Cowley, height would be the least of your concerns with those bridges. They aren't maintained since 1985. Only inspected, as they're considered a Spanish national monument.

The same can't be said of the few bridges on the Portuguese side. They may as well just fall next year.
 

Cowley

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Believe me Cowley, height would be the least of your concerns with those bridges. They aren't maintained since 1985. Only inspected, as they're considered a Spanish national monument.

The same can't be said of the few bridges on the Portuguese side. They may as well just fall next year.
Blimey.
 

Cowley

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I can't see how it's possible to PM on this site? Am I missing something?
It's because you're a new member (welcome by the way).
Once you've posted a few times you'll be able to.
 
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I believe you have to make 5 posts on the forum to activate the PM feature (i think it is to prevent spam bot accounts probably). So once you have made 1 more post you should be able to PM people.
 

DC10

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I believe you have to make 5 posts on the forum to activate the PM feature (i think it is to prevent spam bot accounts probably). So once you have made 1 more post you should be able to PM people.
Thank you chaps, much appreciated.
 

37201xoIM

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One that you can reach by public transport (by EE at present!) is the viaduct for the abandoned metre-gauge line at Pocinho. Quite an impressive structure but derelict and, as stated above, might well be quite dodgy to walk across oneself!
 

D6700

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One that you can reach by public transport (by EE at present!) is the viaduct for the abandoned metre-gauge line at Pocinho. Quite an impressive structure but derelict and, as stated above, might well be quite dodgy to walk across oneself!

Although I hadn't seen this post until a few minutes ago, I was in Pocinho this afternoon and took a look at the bridge. There was plenty of warning signage and some fencing to deter people going on, but access to the rail deck would be incredibly easy - but no way was I going beyond the sturdy embankment!
 

52290

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I wouldn't like to risk walking over the bridge at Pocinho on the rail deck but crossed using the road deck underneath last month on foot.
I crossed it in 1969 behind a 2-4-6-0 tank loco. It was a a bit scary even then.
 

DC10

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The line that crosses from Spain to Portugal and recommended by Giugiaro (thank you again) is visually phenomenal yet regrettably logistically impossible.
Further research led me to the link below of a couple who travelled the line on foot. In the link is a video of the bridge crossings which are amazing.
https://www.viajarentreviagens.pt/portugal/rota-dos-tuneis-barca-dalva-la-fregeneda/
My quest is to find a private or abandoned bridge which can accommodate a steam train. This is for a major advertising photo shoot. I'm aware of the Douro valley line which runs from June to September and any additional offerings and ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.
 

Giugiaro

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Is gauge an important factor?

There's some narrow gauge lines that have been adapted for cycling corridors which might be interesting to consider, like this one:
https://goo.gl/maps/VQvWiawmNnM2

6617117_wcC9T.jpeg
 
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