[Portugal] Biggest Railfan Train in the country's history set for the Beiras Circuit

[Giugiaro]

Hello everyone!

Much has happened over the past two years, and, as a result, tomorrow will be an historical day for the Railway Enthusiast panorama in Portugal!
A train composed of a Néz-Cassé Class 2600 locomotive and 9 Schindler coaches built in the late 1940's will do a trip around the Beiras Circuit, departing and arriving at Porto.
More than 400 passengers will make the 730km long journey, departing from Porto at 07:24, and with ETA at 19:48

This is not just a result of the railway company, CP - Comboios de Portugal, efforts to reestablished its historical fleet back to duty as an answer to its once failing service due to a lack of working rolling stock, but also the ever increasing support of the railway enthusiast community in Portugal and abroad regarding these kind of events.

For those joining the experience, hope for a fantastic journey.
For those awaiting on the trackside for photos and videos, stay sharp!
And for those who didn't have an opportunity to tag along with this event, this is just the beginning.

 

[30907]

Looks fantastic!

 

[peteb]

Did this trip in reverse in January, a stunning circuit, well worth doing anytime on scheduled loco hauled IC trains.

 

[XAM2175]

Wish I could be there!

 

[Giugiaro]

Here are some highlights from yesterday:

Train before departure from Porto

CP 2610_Cº 13536_Porto - Campanhã_26-03-2022 by Gil Ismael Braga Monteiro, no Flickr

Arrival, Reversal, and Departure from Entroncamento

Passing through Nelas

Passing through Alfarelos, and Arrival, Reversal, and Departure from Pampilhosa

 

[peteb]

What's the maximum speed allowed for those Schindler carriages? On the Duoro route the speed seemed limited to 100km/h, but the route from Porto is much faster....from these videos and others on YouTube it seems everyone had a great trip.

 

[Giugiaro]

What's the maximum speed allowed for those Schindler carriages?

120 km/h. On the Douro they don't go faster than 100 km/h because that's the maximum speed allowed for the Class 1400.

 

[peteb]

120 km/h. On the Douro they don't go faster than 100 km/h because the speed is capped at that value for the Class 1400.

Thanks

 

[52290]

Here are some of them around 1972 about to depart Braga on a train to Porto. They seemed to be the latest in CP luxury travel back then!

 

[Giugiaro]

They seemed to be the latest in CP luxury travel back then!

In 1972 the Schindler coaches would already be 24 years old. At that time the recently built Sorefame 1st Class units were the last sensation in luxury:


Interior de carruagem, Portugal by Biblioteca de Arte / Art Library Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, no Flickr

Interior de carruagem, Portugal by Biblioteca de Arte / Art Library Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, no Flickr

 

[37201xoIM]

And for those who didn't have an opportunity to tag along with this event, this is just the beginning.

Can we hold you to that, sir?!

Lovely classy headboard, by the way.

 

[Giugiaro]

Can we hold you to that, sir?!

The railway company has already announced a shorter route with a similar kind of train for April 10th:

Comboio Vintage do Tejo

Uma viagem especial a bordo das carruagens Schindler com as suas janelas panorâmicas ao longo do rio Tejo até Castelo Branco. Saiba mais.

www.cp.pt

 

[AndrewE]

I didn't notice before that the arrangements for the original train included a special stop on a scheduled express to help get people home to Lisbon. No chance of that in the UK!
Looks good for a future holiday.
A