ALCOY TO GANDIA 

Ferrocarril del Alcoy al Puerto de Gandia

 ALCOY-CONCENTAINA-MURO-GAYANES-BENIARRES-LORCHA-VILLALONGA-GANDIA-GRAO DE GANDIA

Known as "El tren de los ingleses",  this metre gauge line was built and run by the English company "The Alcoy and Gandia Railway and Harbour Company".  Construction started in 1888, and the line was finally opened on 17th January 1893 between Alcoy and the Port of Gandia (Grao). There was a short spur off this line to serve Gandia, where the sheds and works were. The junction faced Grao; trains from Gandia to Alcoy had to reverse out of Gandia Station to the junction; trains from Alcoy to Gandia similarly reversed in.  There were two daily services between Gandia and Alcoy, and four made the short trip from Gandia to Grao. A proposed extension from Grao to Cullera (1912) never materialised. Throughout its life, the line was never modernised.  It remained in private hands until 1st January 1965, when it became part of FEVE, which sealed its death warrant, the line closing on 15th April 1969, still using the locos and rolling stock with which it had opened 76 years earlier. Between Muro and Lorcha, much of the trackbed has been converted into a narrow metalled road.  From Lorcha to Villalonga the course is a rough track, passable by a 4x4.  This section is especially scenic, following, as it does, the Rio Serpis, and is worth a visit in its own right, even if you are not interested in railways. From Gandia to Grao, the trackbed is now converted to Spanish standard gauge and is a branch of the RENFE line from Valencia to Gandia. Many artifacts still remain.  The station at Muro is well maintained and used by a brass band.  The station at Lorcha has been allowed to gently decay, and is an atmospheric and evocative place, frequently visited by me.  The station at Gandia is in use as a nursery school, and that at Grao is a restaurant. Many small buildings still stand, and even some of the insulators for the line's telegraphic system remain in the tunnels. This is my absolute favourite closed line!

Two of the line's 2-6-2T locomotives are preserved (in non-running order).  No. 7, Concentaina, is on a plinth outside Gandia (RENFE) station, and no.2, Villalonga is at Alcoy.

LINKS

Except for occasional mentions in connection with its suitability for a country walk, I know of no other websites other than my own which give this line more than the odd mention.  Several of the photos reproduced here are also shown on the web pages of the es.rec.trenes newsgroup at http://members.es.tripod.de/es_rec_trenes/, specifically at http://members.es.tripod.de/es_rec_trenes/archivos/bill.html

If anybody finds any substantial material on the Internet about this line, please let me know!!