The Railways and Tramways of Majorca
Majorca can truly be described as the "Three Foot Gauge Island". Within its 1,405 square miles there were 136 miles of 3ft gauge railway, a 17 mile electric "interurban", and four separate tramway systems. Here in detail; for the first time, is their story.
The first 3ft. gauge railway was opened in 1875 and ultimately comprised four lines radiating out from the capital, Palma. These were steam-worked for much of their history with original motive power by Nasmyth Wilson, Manchester. Very different was the Ferrocaril de Soller, connecting Palma with the north coast resort of Soller. Electrified in 1929, it thrives today as a rare European example of an "interurban" railway, its vintage teak-bodied electric cars pursuing a sinuous mountain route through the island's interior. At Soller, it connects with the Soller Tramway, which runs through the streets of the town out to Puerto Soller.
Back in Palma, conventional 3ft gauge street tramways were opened from 1914 and eventually totalled almost 50km., worked by a fleet of 50 cars; congestion and bus competition caused final closure by 1960. There were also two minor tramway systems, the FC de Alaro and the Arenal Tramway, worked originally by mule power and later by vintage petrol railcars.
Giles Barnabe's book is the first ever full length history of this fascinating group of narrow gauge railways and tramways. Packed within its pages are accounts of each line's history, route and operation, notes on timetables and fares and detailed descriptions and stocklists of the varied steam, diesel and electric motive power. The author covers not just the routes open today, but the numerous closed railways and there are notes on the station buildings, goods sheds, loco depots and other artefacts that remain to interest the present-day explorer. The book is illustrated with around 90 photographs, and some 60 maps, track diagrams, scale drawings of locomotives, rolling stock, station buildings, goods sheds and other structures.
Softback, 128 pages, black & white photographs, drawings
Condition: Very Good with mild discolouration to spine.
ISBN: 9781871980134
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Updated: 2 January 2025