THE TRAMWAYS OF BRAZIL (original) (raw)

There is not an automobile in sight... [col. AM]

A Sergipe government survey reported that Empreza Tração Elétrica de Aracaju operated 10 passenger trams, 3 motorized work trams and 3 trail cars in 1935, one of the latter a carro fúnebre. The trailers were probably former horsecars, but the origin of the third Gütermotorwagen is unknown. ETEA carried 480,000 passengers in 1933, 570,808 in 1934 and 622,817 in 1935. Aracaju residents speak of a tram line to the 18 do Forte district, but its route could not be determined and is not shown on the map.

Tramway operation passed in 1936 to the state-run Serviços de Luz e Força, which closed the rail system in 1951. The horsecar lines had run about 20 years, the electric system 25.

This photograph of the Aracaju skyline was taken in 2007 [Tito Garcez, Wikipedia Commons]:

BIBLIOGRAPHY
(in order of publication)"Força e Luz" in Brazil-Ferro-Carril (Rio de Janeiro), 14/2/1924, p. 223. The Sergipe government signs a contract with German companies for an electric tramway system in Aracaju.

"Empreza de Tracção Electrica de Aracaju" in Brazil-Ferro-Carril (Rio de Janeiro), 30/10/1924, p. 452. Tramway materials arrive at the ports of Maceió and Salvador.

"Tramways" in Brazil-Ferro-Carril (Rio de Janeiro), 2/4/1925, p. 363. Tramway rails from Belgium arrive in Aracaju.

"Tramways" in Brazil-Ferro-Carril (Rio de Janeiro), 16/4/1925, p. 416. Description of the 21 km tramway system and 12 cars.

"Tramways" in Brazil-Ferro-Carril (Rio de Janeiro), 17/12/1925, p. 731. Ten electric trams arrive on the s.s. Bremerhaven.

Untitled news items in Brazil-Ferro-Carril (Rio de Janeiro) of 3/6/1926, p. 645, and 27/5/1926, pp. 525-526. The first tests and the inauguration of service.

Sergipe. Departamento Estadual de Estatística. O Estado de Sergipe em 1939. Aracaju, 1939. "Ferro-Carris", p. 60, presents Aracaju tramway statistics for 1933-1935.

"Não está certo..." in Sergipe Jornal (Aracaju), 26/10/1951, p. 01. A front page article laments the sudden closure of the tramway system.

"Edvaldo entrega à população histórico abrigo de ônibus revitalizado da Praça do Mini-Golfe" in Prefeitura de Aracaju, 15/2/2008. The Aracaju mayor restores an old tram (later bus) waiting station. 20 photographs.

"O Bonde em Aracaju" in Aracajuantigga [sic], 26/1/2009. Four tram illustrations, brief history.

"Palestra sobre os Bondes em Aracaju" em Willyshistória, 19/2/2009. Interesting data on the horsecar system.

The autor wishes to thank Aracaju resident Amâncio Cardoso for locating the Sergipe Jornal article noted above which finally, after many years of search, revealed the date of closure of the Aracaju tramway system.

See my index of
ELECTRIC TRANSPORT IN LATIN AMERICA

If you have comments, criticism or suggestions,
please e-mail me! Leio e escrevo português.

This site was placed online on
6 December 2011