This article aims to describe the evolution of Portuguese railway historiography and to speculate on which research trends could be further developed in the future. The author lists and performs a short critical appraisal of some works that illustrate the major lines of research thus far. He then pinpoints areas that could benefit from further research and that could become investigation trends in a near future, despite the budget cuts that universities and research as a whole are currently undergoing.
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Portuguese Railway History: Still a Field of Opportunities?
Hugo Silveira Pereira
In Mobility in History
- Published (Print):
- 01 Jan 2015
- Article Type:
- Research Article
- Pages:
- 105–112 (8 total)
Past, Present, and Future of Peripheral Mobilities in Portugal
The Portuguese Narrow-Gauge Railway System (1870s–2010s)
Hugo Silveira Pereira
Abstract
In the Portuguese railway system, narrow-gauge lines were an important part of the network, accounting for a fifth of the extent and roughly a sixth of the traffic. Portuguese historiography about these railways focuses on partial aspects of their evolution and does not provide a general critical overview of their history. In this article, I propose the analysis of Portuguese narrow gauge as a Large Technological System connecting the Portuguese center(s) to its periphery(ies) in different stages of its evolution, from its implementation to its decline. Using available literature and unpublished statistical data of operation, I demonstrate how narrow gauge was unable to compete with automobility and ceased to be an alternative for long-distance transportation, but is resurfacing with different uses and goals.