Ferrocarril de Sóller
Encyclopedia
The Ferrocarril de Sóller (ˌfɛrukəˈriɫ də ˈsoʎə, "Sóller Railway") or FS is an interurban
railway and the name for the company which operates the electrified gauge tracks running between the towns of Sóller
and Palma
on the Spanish
island of Mallorca
(stopping at various smaller towns such as Bunyola
and Son Sardina). The historic electric train takes a route north from the capital across the plains, winding through mountains and 13 tunnels of the Serra de Tramuntana
, finally ending in the large railway station of the northern town of Sóller. Work began on the railway in 1911 on the profits of the orange
and lemon
trade, which at the time was booming. The famous train is now not only a mode of transport between these two key Mallorcan settlements, but also an attraction in itself. The line is closed in December and January for annual maintenance. Single tickets cost €10, whereas returns are €17.
, partly given up to a museum
, cleverly renovated so that the large glass windows reflect the train tracks to make them look as if they go on into the rooms. The station is just off the Plaça de Espanya and borders a large and popular park
which lies on top of the underground Estació Intermodal. Several old railway buildings (one with a large brick chimney
) lie untouched in the park and there are several train-themed play structures, each one a carriage named after a settlement along the line.
and (inside the building) a museum dedicated to the works of Picasso and Joan Miró
.
Interurban
An interurban, also called a radial railway in parts of Canada, is a type of electric passenger railroad; in short a hybrid between tram and train. Interurbans enjoyed widespread popularity in the first three decades of the twentieth century in North America. Until the early 1920s, most roads were...
railway and the name for the company which operates the electrified gauge tracks running between the towns of Sóller
Sóller
Sóller is a town and municipality near the north west coast of Mallorca, in the Balearic Islands of Spain. The town is some 3km inland, from the Port de Sóller, in a large, bowl-shaped valley that also includes the village of Fornalutx and the hamlets of Biniaraix and Binibassi. The combined...
and Palma
Palma de Mallorca
Palma is the major city and port on the island of Majorca and capital city of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands in Spain. The names Ciutat de Mallorca and Ciutat were used before the War of the Spanish Succession and are still used by people in Majorca. However, the official name...
on the Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
island of Mallorca
Mallorca
Majorca or Mallorca is an island located in the Mediterranean Sea, one of the Balearic Islands.The capital of the island, Palma, is also the capital of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands. The Cabrera Archipelago is administratively grouped with Majorca...
(stopping at various smaller towns such as Bunyola
Bunyola
Bunyola is a municipality of the island of Mallorca, Spain, located in the spurs of the Serra de Tramuntana, at a distance of from Palma. The municipality has an area of and a population of 5,475 inhabitants, and the Ferrocarril de Sóller passes through it on the way to Palma....
and Son Sardina). The historic electric train takes a route north from the capital across the plains, winding through mountains and 13 tunnels of the Serra de Tramuntana
Serra de Tramuntana
The Serra de Tramuntana is a mountain range running southwest-northeast which forms the northern backbone of the Spanish island of Majorca. It is also the name given to the comarca of the same area...
, finally ending in the large railway station of the northern town of Sóller. Work began on the railway in 1911 on the profits of the orange
Orange (fruit)
An orange—specifically, the sweet orange—is the citrus Citrus × sinensis and its fruit. It is the most commonly grown tree fruit in the world....
and lemon
Lemon
The lemon is both a small evergreen tree native to Asia, and the tree's ellipsoidal yellow fruit. The fruit is used for culinary and non-culinary purposes throughout the world – primarily for its juice, though the pulp and rind are also used, mainly in cooking and baking...
trade, which at the time was booming. The famous train is now not only a mode of transport between these two key Mallorcan settlements, but also an attraction in itself. The line is closed in December and January for annual maintenance. Single tickets cost €10, whereas returns are €17.
Palma railway station
Palma Railway Station is a subtle, relatively small brown brick building with a large "Ferrocarril de Sóller" sign on its façadeFacade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
, partly given up to a museum
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
, cleverly renovated so that the large glass windows reflect the train tracks to make them look as if they go on into the rooms. The station is just off the Plaça de Espanya and borders a large and popular park
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
which lies on top of the underground Estació Intermodal. Several old railway buildings (one with a large brick chimney
Chimney
A chimney is a structure for venting hot flue gases or smoke from a boiler, stove, furnace or fireplace to the outside atmosphere. Chimneys are typically vertical, or as near as possible to vertical, to ensure that the gases flow smoothly, drawing air into the combustion in what is known as the...
) lie untouched in the park and there are several train-themed play structures, each one a carriage named after a settlement along the line.
Sóller railway station
Sóller Railway Station on the other hand is much larger, developed from a fortified house dating from 1606, Ca'n Mayol. The station is also home to the tram which runs from Sóller to Port de SóllerPort de Sóller
Port de Sóller is a village and the port of the town of Sóller, in Mallorca, in the Balearic Islands, Spain. Along with the village of Fornalutx and the hamlet of Biniaraix they combine to form Sóller. The combined population is around 12,000...
and (inside the building) a museum dedicated to the works of Picasso and Joan Miró
Joan Miró
Joan Miró i Ferrà was a Spanish Catalan painter, sculptor, and ceramicist born in Barcelona.Earning international acclaim, his work has been interpreted as Surrealism, a sandbox for the subconscious mind, a re-creation of the childlike, and a manifestation of Catalan pride...
.