Ferrocarril de Soller Railway Bridge - Soller, Mallorca, Spain
Posted by: 
dtrebilc
N 39° 45.779 E 002° 42.857
31S E 475527 N 4401490
This railway bridge is on the outskirts of the town of Soller and carries the Ferrocarril de Soller Railway across a narrow road.
Waymark Code: WMKMA8
Location: Islas Baleares, Spain
Date Posted: 05/01/2014
Views: 8
The railway line which opened in 1912 links the town of Soller with , Palma, the capital City of Mallorca.
The town of Soller had become rich from the export of oranges, lemons and olives but transporting the goods for export from Palma was difficult as the road crossed mountain ranges.
The businessmen of the town sponsored the building of the railway.
"The railway is characterized, amongst other things, by the fact that it is narrow gauge, the track width being 914 mm (an English yard), which is infrequent nowadays; moreover its rolling stock is extremely varied and meticulously finished, and maintained using traditional methods.
The Sóller railway also stands out for the special, attractive route it runs along, overcoming the natural barrier of the Sierra de Alfàbia mountain range which is 2.8 km wide and 496 metres high. To do so, in just seven kilometres, the railway rises up 199 metres with an inclination of 23 millimetres, runs through thirteen longitudinal tunnels ranging in length from 33 to 2,876 metres, crosses over several bridges, the “cinc-ponts” viaduct which has five arches with spans 8 metres high and a great many bends, some with radii below 190 metres.
On 14th July 1929 electrical traction was inaugurated between Palma and Sóller, with hundreds of people turning out to welcome the inaugural convoy."
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