ronik24
Proud Earthling
Hi,
To the previous part of the series:
Overland from Porto home - 3: Porto Brill Streetcars (50 p.)
From Porto Home - the Movie, April 5-21 2024
April 9 2024
Tuesday noon, we departed for a trip along the Linha do Minho:
en.wikipedia.org
A Medway (= CP Freight division) Vectron crossed the Douro southwards in front of our doorstep.
We had planned to take the train starting at São Bento.
The rake had been shunted to the platform in time two days prior, now we waited past the departure time of IR 853 without any sign of it. The service disappeared from all displays and the CP online delay page proved not very reliable. However, a CP staff member reassured us that it was just delayed and would certainly come.
IR 864 arrived from Régua almost half an hour late.
Finally - our train, shunted to the terminal by 2603 with another "Nez cassé" on the other end.
To the left: We met R 3110 at Barcelos. Obviously a point had failed as suddenly our train had to push back.
See video here:
To the right: Rio Lima is crossed shortly before reaching Viana do Castelo on a combined rail/road bridge.
We finally arrived at the district capital at 3:15 instead of 2:23.
Viana do Castelo absolutely is worth a stop, a lovely little town:
en.wikipedia.org
Praça da República with old town hall to the right. "Casa das Varandas" built in 1589 to the left.
The cathedral.
The bridge viewed from the harbour where an icy wind was blowing. There was no time left to wait for a train passing it due to our delay, but it would not be properly visible on the lower level anyway.
Museum ship "Gil Eannes", constructed in 1955 at Viana to accompany the cod fishing fleet around the world as a hospital and supply vessel. Cod is an essential part of the Portuguese diet, I ate it several times in different variations.
en.wikipedia.org
The pretty station underwent a major overhaul. Basilica de Santa Luzia on the hill can be reached by funicular - supposedly one of the nicest panoramic spots worldwide... I had another spot in mind :0):
maps.app.goo.gl
Nice shed, nasty shopping mall, dirty 2278:
en.wikipedia.org
Our train arrived early formed of clean 2271. The service changes its number twice on its way from São Bento to Valença: Urbano 15227 to Nine, Regional 3111 to Viana do Castelo, continuing as Regional 3205.
The two latter parts of the railway had only been electrified very recently (2019 / 2021).
Moledo, our northernmost destination in Portugal.
A long straight towards Valença.
The border river Minho reaches the Atlantic Ocean here - the other shore is part of Spain.
Ínsua island in the middle of the mouth of the river belongs to Portugal. It was settled by Franciscan monks in the Middle Ages, the fortress had been built in the 17th century. Despite tall waves, it can be visited by boat via the eastern beach:
en.wikipedia.org
With 10-degree-weather and strong winds the amount of beachgoers remained in the single digits.
I stood on a sand dune to capture Atlantic beach and Nez cassé at 5:40 p.m. with almost punctual IR 855 Porto-Campanhã - Valença.
Panoramic view. InterRegionales stopped at Moledo.
I went on a short mountain hike. It gets quite idyllic as soon as you cross the busy coastal road. Only several guard dogs kept barking in front of empty holiday villas.
My planned viewpoint:
maps.app.goo.gl
The only long-distance IR of the day - IR 830 Valença (6:10 p.m.) - Porto-Campanhã (8:10-8:15) - Figueira da Foz (10:45) - departed Moledo.
I removed the giant mobile phone mast in this image.
View towards Spain.
Atlantic conte-jour.
Part of an iPhone panorama.
Lonely modes of transport in front of the vast ocean.
I quickly walked downhill towards dinner.
R 3207 (Porto -) Viana do Castelo - Valença captured from the roadside at the southern town boundary.
2271 as R 3208 to Viana do Castelo at the level crossing next to the station.
The buildings somehow reminded me of Arizona.
We had dinner at the lovely restaurant "Argaço" from where I could watch the sunset and take pictures of one more train while eating octopus.
IR 857 Porto-Campanhã - Valença passing the beach shortly before sunset.
Mmmmmh...
We returned to the station already in darkness at 8:30 p.m.
The last train of the day to Porto, IR 856 departing at 8:50 p.m.
2610 took us home in first class, arriving at 10:30 p.m.
We will visit the Douro Valley again early next morning.
To the previous part of the series:
Overland from Porto home - 3: Porto Brill Streetcars (50 p.)
From Porto Home - the Movie, April 5-21 2024
April 9 2024
Tuesday noon, we departed for a trip along the Linha do Minho:
Linha do Minho - Wikipedia
A Medway (= CP Freight division) Vectron crossed the Douro southwards in front of our doorstep.
We had planned to take the train starting at São Bento.
The rake had been shunted to the platform in time two days prior, now we waited past the departure time of IR 853 without any sign of it. The service disappeared from all displays and the CP online delay page proved not very reliable. However, a CP staff member reassured us that it was just delayed and would certainly come.
IR 864 arrived from Régua almost half an hour late.
Finally - our train, shunted to the terminal by 2603 with another "Nez cassé" on the other end.
To the left: We met R 3110 at Barcelos. Obviously a point had failed as suddenly our train had to push back.
See video here:
To the right: Rio Lima is crossed shortly before reaching Viana do Castelo on a combined rail/road bridge.
We finally arrived at the district capital at 3:15 instead of 2:23.
Viana do Castelo absolutely is worth a stop, a lovely little town:
Viana do Castelo - Wikipedia
Praça da República with old town hall to the right. "Casa das Varandas" built in 1589 to the left.
The cathedral.
The bridge viewed from the harbour where an icy wind was blowing. There was no time left to wait for a train passing it due to our delay, but it would not be properly visible on the lower level anyway.
Museum ship "Gil Eannes", constructed in 1955 at Viana to accompany the cod fishing fleet around the world as a hospital and supply vessel. Cod is an essential part of the Portuguese diet, I ate it several times in different variations.
Gil Eannes (ship) - Wikipedia
The pretty station underwent a major overhaul. Basilica de Santa Luzia on the hill can be reached by funicular - supposedly one of the nicest panoramic spots worldwide... I had another spot in mind :0):
Google Maps
Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.
Nice shed, nasty shopping mall, dirty 2278:
CP Class 2240 - Wikipedia
Our train arrived early formed of clean 2271. The service changes its number twice on its way from São Bento to Valença: Urbano 15227 to Nine, Regional 3111 to Viana do Castelo, continuing as Regional 3205.
The two latter parts of the railway had only been electrified very recently (2019 / 2021).
Moledo, our northernmost destination in Portugal.
A long straight towards Valença.
The border river Minho reaches the Atlantic Ocean here - the other shore is part of Spain.
Ínsua island in the middle of the mouth of the river belongs to Portugal. It was settled by Franciscan monks in the Middle Ages, the fortress had been built in the 17th century. Despite tall waves, it can be visited by boat via the eastern beach:
Ínsua Fort - Wikipedia
With 10-degree-weather and strong winds the amount of beachgoers remained in the single digits.
I stood on a sand dune to capture Atlantic beach and Nez cassé at 5:40 p.m. with almost punctual IR 855 Porto-Campanhã - Valença.
Panoramic view. InterRegionales stopped at Moledo.
I went on a short mountain hike. It gets quite idyllic as soon as you cross the busy coastal road. Only several guard dogs kept barking in front of empty holiday villas.
My planned viewpoint:
Google Maps
Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.
The only long-distance IR of the day - IR 830 Valença (6:10 p.m.) - Porto-Campanhã (8:10-8:15) - Figueira da Foz (10:45) - departed Moledo.
I removed the giant mobile phone mast in this image.
View towards Spain.
Atlantic conte-jour.
Part of an iPhone panorama.
Lonely modes of transport in front of the vast ocean.
I quickly walked downhill towards dinner.
R 3207 (Porto -) Viana do Castelo - Valença captured from the roadside at the southern town boundary.
2271 as R 3208 to Viana do Castelo at the level crossing next to the station.
The buildings somehow reminded me of Arizona.
We had dinner at the lovely restaurant "Argaço" from where I could watch the sunset and take pictures of one more train while eating octopus.
IR 857 Porto-Campanhã - Valença passing the beach shortly before sunset.
Mmmmmh...
We returned to the station already in darkness at 8:30 p.m.
The last train of the day to Porto, IR 856 departing at 8:50 p.m.
2610 took us home in first class, arriving at 10:30 p.m.
We will visit the Douro Valley again early next morning.
