Caminhos-de-ferro da Beira (1845-1893)

Abstract

In the second half of the XIX century Portugal had achieved the political and economical conditions to undertake the construction of the railway, as it was happening for some time in a vast part of the Europe. The purpose was to link Lisbon to Europe, so that the national economy could take part in the big commercial movement that was going on in Europe. At the same time the development of the national territory crossed by the railway was expected. The crossing of Beira seemed undoubtedly in view of the geographical situation of Portugal, but only very lately the trains would run across this region.

This paper is a product of a doctorship project in progress concerning the national railway politics from 1845 to 1900. It intends to explain the stages of the construction of the railway in Beira region; from the development of studies up to the accomplishment of the works, including the parliamentary debates. Therefore this investigation went through the reports published in the Boletim do Ministério das Obras Públicas (BMOP) and in the Revista de Obras Públicas e Minas as well as the reports done by the Conselho Superior (CSOP) and its successor the Junta Consultiva (JCOP) kept by the Arquivo Histórico do Ministério das Obras Públicas, and the parliamentary debates. As the link to Spain was obligatory, reports made by Spanish engineers, some records belonging to the Arquivo Histórico-Militar (ARD) and also the opinions of the military instance were also examined.