0-4-4-0T number E165 shunts in the yard at Livração prior to working a mixed
train to Arco de Baulhe as one of the Nohab railcars arrives from Amarante.Photo Blake Paterson
The Tamega line was a feeder to the Douro valley line built by the Minho & Douro division of the CF do Estado with construction spread over many years with first section from Livração to Amarante opened in March 1909. Gatão 4.7km on was not opened until 23rd October 1921, Chapa another 3.7km on 23rd November 1926 and Celorico de Basto 13.4km more on 20th March 1932.
This was as far as the line reached prior to the CP taking charge in 1947 although the formation & buildings
had been completed to Arco de Baúlhe. The rails were laid by the CP after nationalisation and the 17kms from
Celorico de Basto were finally opened on 15th November 1949.
The CP quickly invested in railcars to control operating costs, purchasing the 3 diesel hydraulic railcars from Nohab
which spent the whole of their working lives on the line. These were vacuum braked so that they could haul coaches or
wagons leaving steam locomotives in charge of the goods trains or use at times of peak traffic demands such as the
Festival of S. Gonçalo in Amarante. Steam operations finally ceased in 1986 with a diesel locomotive taking over
the goods turns until the withdrawal of all services north of Amarante in May 1989 and all narrow gauge goods services
later that year.
Like the Corgo the remaining passenger services to Amarante were suspended indefinitely from 29th March 2009, so this
section just reached its centenary.
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