Portugal 20/02/99 to 27/02/99 "The One-Armed Ninja"
I had for many years attended the Weekly Wind Up, a weekly Thursday evening occurrence with about 70 like minded people working on the railway or LUL or Buses trying out varied venues in London & the Home Counties to drink Real Ale.
At these events 2 things normally held true 1) I would drink more than the other 70 odd people present & get in the biggest mess & 2) conversations involving Portuguese Railways ALWAYS revolved around "Portuguese 50's, Portuguese 50's OR Portuguese 50's! (& an occasional class 20)".
As I hold all class 50's in little (or No) regard that was enough to swerve Portugal for good. Until one evening when Rubble, fresh back from CP land cried out "I was bowled by a Shredder!". Tell me more - what do you mean they have a fleet of Alco RSC-2 / RSC-3 2000hp locos from 1948! and a fleet of MLW MX620's to boot. How come I've never been informed of this fact?
Displeased as I was I had other fish to fry in Germany, Austria & Hungary in these days trying to do as much track diesel hauled as possible. I didn't plan a trip to Portugal until news that the dreaded "sectorisation" was looming over there so the chance of Alco's and more especially MLW's on booked work would become non-existent.
Travelling would be myself (Poodle) & Betty (David Icke, no not THAT David Icke - the other one!). Betty's Mum came up trumps, she painfully sat watching Ceefax on the TV (that's right Kids you could get last minute package holiday deals on the telly. It was mind-numbing, no feedback or interactivity like a computer & blink & you miss a page) finding us a week trip (including Flights) with an apartment in Albufeira for £108 each. So cheap we felt like we'd pulled off a Heist!
Saturday 20/02/1999
G000I Manchester Airport - Faro 1530 Manchester A - Faro
An evening sampling the delights of Albufeira, the most British of Portuguese holiday resorts.
We wandered up & down the strip and little side roads, down near the beach etc but nary a pint of anything decent to be found. The normal British over-the-top behaviour became evident as the night wore on. We finally ended up in Jocks Bar (Scottish variety not American sportsman) Guinness I think but anything's better than Euro fizz lager. They also opened every morning for Scottish breakfast, we made this our go-to move at the start of any day when we didn't have an early start.
Sunday 21/02/1999
We had based our trip around the 0635 Vila Real to Barreiro "Day train", booked for an Alco.
As Albufeira was a long way from the frenzy of Loco Hauled moves out of Barreiro we could accumulate Alco mileage every day going up on this service. Of course we fell at the first hurdle, an Alco had failed two days previously & been dragged into the works so this turn was an Alstom all week! (# denotes new loco)
1933# Albufeira - Pinhal Novo 0635 Vila Real d.St.Antonia - Barreiro 239km
1422# Pinhal Novo - Setubal 1205 Barreiro - Setubal 13km
The class 1400's, built at Newton Le Willows, are likened to our Class 20's locos (that I don't mind) but I think I like the CP one's just that little bit more. Then back to Pinhal Novo to pick up the first Alco RSC-2 of the trip.
1422 Setubal - Barreiro A 1317 Setubal - Barreiro 27km
DMU Barriero A - Pinhal Novo 1422 Barreiro - Setubal 14km
1510# Pinhal Novo - Barreiro 1310 Beja - Barreiro 16kmHellfire! Travelling through the suburbs with the loco thrashing away & it's "Ships Horn" blasting away before every Level crossing - what's not to like!
Time to settle down for a proper run
1501# Barreiro - Beja 1600 Barreiro - Beja 154km
1501 Beja - Alvito 1920 Beja - Barreiro 48km
We would have got back to Albufeira 3 hours earlier if we went south from Beja but 1501 was too good to flag so we took the return as far as we could.
My113 Alvito - Funcheira 1922 Casa Branca - Tunes 92km
1938# Funcheira - Albufeira 1935 Barreiro - Vial Real 91km
These Alstom's might not be an Alco - but they are VERY loud!
Monday 22/02/1999
After our long day and late finish yesterday we decided on a relaxing day covering the branch to Lagos.
DMU Albufeira - Faro 1215 Lagos - Vila Real 33km
1416# Faro - Lagos 1240 Vial real - Lagos 85km
General scene at Tunes classes 20 & Log (Class 50) present
A very pleasant run following the coast from Tunes where you leave the mainline and head off down the Lagos branch. A few drinks in Lagos - it's much classier than Albufeira! Then bowled by a 1200 "Sewing Machine".
1217 at Lagos on the 1700 to Tunes
1217# Lagos - Tunes 1700 Lagos - Tunes 46km
1423# Tunes - Algoz 1745 Faro - Lagos 4km
1416 Algoz - Albufeira 1823 Lagos - Vila Real 10km
Back to Jocks Bar, I don't think we joined in with the Karaoke but we were the last to stagger off to our digs.
Tuesday 23/02/1999
Our Apartment complex even had a pool (not that we used it) but I just thought you should know.
We had made a joint decision - we couldn't face going all the way to Barreiro on an Alstom so if the day train wasn't an Alco (you already know the answer to that!) we would change at Funcheira and cover the loco hauled turn on the Evora branch. A long way to go for very little but at least it would drop us into the Beja Alco turns. Plus another run on our old friend the "Real" unit My113.
1936# Albufeira - Funcheira 0635 Vila Real d.St.Antonia - Barreiro 91km
My113 Funcheira - Casa Branca 1003 Funcheira - Casa Branca 127km
1524 at Beja waits its next working , photo taken while My113 waited time on its way to Casa Branca
My113 Casa Branca - Evora 1225 Casa Branca - Evora 16km
1204 at Evora on the 1313 to Casa Branca (portion for 1310 Beja - Barreiro) with MY113 in the background
1204# Evora - Casa Branca 1313 Evora - Barreiro (Portion) 16km
Casa Branca
1524# Casa Branca - Barreiro 1310 Beja - Barreiro 91km
1501 Barreiro - Pinhal Novo 1600 Barreiro - Beja 16km
Here we parted company, Betty went to cover the Class 50 turns on the locals, I jumped at the chance of an Alco on the 1635 down the mainline to Funcheira. Out the front window all the way BEAST.
1524 Pinhal Novo - Funcheira 1635 Barreiro - Funcheira 148km
I had planned to leap back towards Barreiro on an Alstom and meet Betty who would be coming down on the 1935, but a herd of cattle intervened so the up train never came! The station has a tiny bar, me & a friendly soldier filled most of it for the next 3 hours. As you can imagine I was not too sober when the 1935 finally arrived to whisk me homewards!
1933 Funcheira - Albufeira 1935 Barreiro - Vial Real 91km
Wednesday 24/02/1999
A late start I think I was a little fragile this morning! A bit of a rest day so we decided to go South instead.
1202 at Albufeira
1935 Albufeira - 0835 Barreiro - Vila Real 89km
Vila Real de St.Antonia
1201# Vila Real - Faro 1421 Vila Real - Lagos 56km
I do we believe we found some decent beer in Faro! Though gone are the days when I have a clue what it was...
1206# Faro - Algoz 1745 Faro - Lagos 43km
1416 Algoz - Albufeira 1823 Lagos - Vila Real 10km
An evening in Albufeira - Jock's Bar of course.
Thursday 25/02/1999
The reason for the "rest day" yesterday was our need to travel far to the North to cover some MLW turns out of Abrantes & Covilha, this would involve (possibly) two overnights so we wouldn't get to use our beds again.
1933 Albufeira - Pinhal Novo 0635 Vila Real d.St.Antonia - Barreiro 239km
The penultimate weekday before sectorisation, we all know what happens if you leave things to cover on the last day - they never happen! We set about covering all the loco hauled turns.
1426# Pinhal Novo - Venda do Alcaide 1205 Barreiro - Setubal 4km
1418# Venda do Alcaide - Barreiro 1230 Praias-Sado - Barreiro 20km
We must have gone for beer & snacks before:
1418 Barreiro - Pinhal Novo 1412 Barreiro - Setubal 16km
1510 Pinhal Novo - Barreiro 1310 Beja - Barreiro 16km
1934# Barreiro - Baixa da Banheira 1520 Barreiro - Praias-Sado 7km
DMU Baixa da Banheira - Barreiro 1500 Setubal - Barriero 7km
1524 Barreiro - Pinhal Novo 1600 Barreiro - Beja 16km
1501 Pinhal Novo - Praias-Sado 1635 Barreiro - Funcheira 18km
I begged Betty to let me take this to Funcheira & come back up for the overnight but he insisted he wanted to cover the last booked 50 turn on this the penultimate day, fair enough then don't upset yourself!
1934 Praias-Sado - Barreiro A 1718 Praias-Sado - Barreiro 32km
1806# Barreiro A - Setubal 1820 Barreiro - Praias-Sado 27km
My first & last Portuguese class 50 it was hellf…… no hold on it was rubbish!
1426 Setubal - Moita 1902 Praias-Sado - Barreiro 19km
1937# Moita - Pinhal Novo 1940 Barreiro - Setubal 6km
We had thought about going over on the Ferry to Lisbon for a few pre-overnight Beers but the chance for 2 more runs on Alco's won the day
1510 Pinhal Novo - Vendas Novas 2005 Barreiro - Beja 57km
1524 Vendas Novas - Barreiro 1920 Beja - Barreiro 73km
Ferry Barreiro - Lisboa (Tras os Montes) 2150 Barreiro - Lisboa
Friday 26/02/1999
A Strike had been called for today over the whole CP network, these had been happening regularly on a Friday for some weeks.
2612# Lisboa Santa Apolonia - Abrantes 0003 Lisboa SA - Castelo Branco 135km
1554# Abrantes - Castelo Branco 0003 Lisboa SA - Castelo Branco 94km
We had info from other Bashers that the overnight to Castelo Branco would still run even if a Strike did happen so we would at least get an MLW on the overnight from Abrantes to Castelo Branco. If the strike was on it would run-round here and return to Abrantes - if not it would form the 0530 to Covilha as booked. Alarms were set for 0500 - I asked the Guard what was happening and he said the Strike had been Cancelled at about 2300 last night - Good News! Off we went to Covilha.
1554 Castelo Branco - Covilha 0530 Castelo Branco - Covilha 72km
Arriving into Covilha on the 0530 from Costelo Branco behind MLW 1554 with MLW 1560 ready to depart on the next service to Lisbon
1554 Covilha - Mouriscas A 0750 Covilha - Lisboa SA 151km
1560# Mouriscas A - Castelo Branco 0900 Lisboa SA - Castelo Branco 79km
1560 awaits a southbound service to pass enroute to Covilha
Now the Strike wasn't happening we were sorted for our main aim today - the Fridays Only MLW hauled student train over the mountainous route through to Guarda. We had missed breakfast but had always planned to partake of a full Portuguese meal today. They take hours, nothing is rushed and we hadn't had time to fit one in before. With over 3 hours here it was no problem, we found a traditional restaurant in town and had a 3 course meal with wine which took about 2 & 1/2 hours all told! Excellent food and not over priced either.
1566 on freight at Castello Branco
1552 waits at Costelo Branco on the 1445 Fridays only to Guarda. A mega scenic route
1552# Castelo Branco - Guarda 1445 Costelo Branca - Porto Campanha 138km
A tortuous, scenic run through the mountains, at walking pace in parts with screeching rails - a great journey. We had lost time however, we mentioned to the Guard we needed to make our connection at Pampilhosa - he said so did our driver so it would be no problem.
2627# Guarda - Pampilhosa 1445 Costelo Branca - Porto Campanha 155km
Only to see the back end of our next train pulling out as we approached the platform. Our driver ended up on the platform with his gear, waving his arms about in a rather displeased manner!
We would have made the overnight from Barreiro to Albufeira off this train but it was not to be.
EMU Pampilhosa - Coimbra B 1803 Porto Sao Bento - Coimbra 14km
2603# Coimbra B - Lisboa SA 1850 Braga - Lisboa SA 218km
Back into Lisbon after midnight we needed a hotel - straight to the taxi rank "can you find us a hotel for the night". Then followed a surreal journey, our one-armed (!) taxi driver whizzed us to a couple of nearby hotels but both were full then he drove around a maze of pedestrianised streets (taxi's only?) until he did find us a hotel with a room. Betty was visibly shaking after watching the one-armed Ninja spinning the steering wheel to negotiate some of the sharp turns on the way!
Saturday 27/02/1999
We were both exhausted this morning but we had to head straight back towards Albufeira as we were flying back this evening.
Ferry Lisboa - Barreiro (Minho) 0735 Lisboa - Barreiro
1525# Barriero - Pinhal Novo 0825 Barriero - Beja 16km
1525 at Pinhal Novo on the 0825 Barreiro - Beja
A new Alco but we couldn't take it via Beja, it being a Saturday there was no move from there towards Albufeira. Back with a winner Alstom instead.
1938# Pinhal Novo - Albufeira 0835 Barreiro - Vila Real 239km
G000W Faro - Manchester Airport 1900 Faro - Manchester A.
Total KM = 3517km Total Moves = 55
Daily Average = 502km Average per move = 63.9km
A great first (belated) trip to Portugal. The Alco's were fantastic all week and the MLW's are not far behind. The people are friendly - it was just a pity that back then the beer scene was pretty poor.
Oh well more time to bash the locos then! After two long days to cover Covilha & Guarda the taxi journey around the streets of Lisbon was a finisher!!
Cheers Poodle & Betty.
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