Napoli-Portici
Encyclopedia
The Napoli-Portici was the first Italian
railway line; it was built by the Bayard Company and opened in 1839. It now forms part of the Naples–Salerno line.
to the royal palace at Portici
, at the foot of Mount Vesuvius
, now used by the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Naples Federico II
.
. The concession authorised Bayard to build a railway from the current location of Napoli Centrale station outside the old walls of Naples along the Bay of Naples to Nocera Inferiore
on the Sorrentine Peninsula
, a distance of 35.8 kilometres (22.2 mi), with possible extensions to Salerno
and Avellino
, both through mountainous country. The line was built of wrought iron rails mounted on large cubic stone sunk into the ground (as the system of using wooden sleepers to distribute weights had not been invented) and gauge was maintained from time to time with transverse bars. Three locomotives were imported from Longridge and Co
of England: two 2-2-2
locomotives for passenger traffic, named Bayard and Vesuvio and one locomotive for goods traffic; rollingstock was built locally. The king opened the first 7.25 kilometres (4.5 mi) of the line was from Naples to Portici on 3 October 1839. By the end of 1839 it had carried 131,116 passengers. It was extended to Castellammare di Stabia
in 1842 and Nocera in 1844.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
railway line; it was built by the Bayard Company and opened in 1839. It now forms part of the Naples–Salerno line.
Geography
The initial line was a double track of 7.25 kilometres (4.5 mi). It ran from the current site of Corso Garibaldi in NaplesNaples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
to the royal palace at Portici
Portici
Portici is a town and comune of the Province of Naples in the Campania region of southern Italy. It is the site of the Portici Royal Palace.-Geography:...
, at the foot of Mount Vesuvius
Mount Vesuvius
Mount Vesuvius is a stratovolcano in the Gulf of Naples, Italy, about east of Naples and a short distance from the shore. It is the only volcano on the European mainland to have erupted within the last hundred years, although it is not currently erupting...
, now used by the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Naples Federico II
University of Naples Federico II
The University of Naples Federico II is a university located in Naples, Italy. It was founded in 1224 and is organized into 13 faculties. It is the world's oldest state university and one of the oldest academic institutions in continuous operation...
.
History
The line was promoted by a French man, Armand Bayard de la Vingtrie, who received a concession to build it in February 1837 from King Ferdinand II of the Two SiciliesFerdinand II of the Two Sicilies
Ferdinand II was King of the Two Sicilies from 1830 until his death.-Family:Ferdinand was born in Palermo, the son of King Francis I of the Two Sicilies and his wife and first cousin Maria Isabella of Spain.His paternal grandparents were King Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies and Queen Marie...
. The concession authorised Bayard to build a railway from the current location of Napoli Centrale station outside the old walls of Naples along the Bay of Naples to Nocera Inferiore
Nocera Inferiore
Nocera Inferiore, formerly Nocera dei Pagani, is a town and comune in Campania, Italy, in the province of Salerno, at the foot of Monte Albino, 20 km east-south-east of Naples by rail.-History:...
on the Sorrentine Peninsula
Sorrentine Peninsula
The Sorrentine Peninsula or Sorrento Peninsula is a peninsula located in southern Italy that separates the Gulf of Naples to the north from the Gulf of Salerno to the south.-Overview:...
, a distance of 35.8 kilometres (22.2 mi), with possible extensions to Salerno
Salerno
Salerno is a city and comune in Campania and is the capital of the province of the same name. It is located on the Gulf of Salerno on the Tyrrhenian Sea....
and Avellino
Avellino
Avellino is a town and comune, capital of the province of Avellino in the Campania region of southern Italy. It is situated in a plain surrounded by mountains 42 km north-east of Naples and is an important hub on the road from Salerno to Benevento.-History:Before the Roman conquest, the...
, both through mountainous country. The line was built of wrought iron rails mounted on large cubic stone sunk into the ground (as the system of using wooden sleepers to distribute weights had not been invented) and gauge was maintained from time to time with transverse bars. Three locomotives were imported from Longridge and Co
Bedlington Ironworks
Bedlington Ironworks, in Blyth Dene, Northumberland, England, operated between 1736 and 1867. It is most remembered as the place where wrought iron rails were invented by John Birkinshaw in 1820, which triggered the railway age, with their first major use being in the Stockton and Darlington...
of England: two 2-2-2
2-2-2
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-2-2 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle two powered driving wheels on one axle, and two trailing wheels on one axle. The wheel arrangement both provided more stability and enabled a larger firebox...
locomotives for passenger traffic, named Bayard and Vesuvio and one locomotive for goods traffic; rollingstock was built locally. The king opened the first 7.25 kilometres (4.5 mi) of the line was from Naples to Portici on 3 October 1839. By the end of 1839 it had carried 131,116 passengers. It was extended to Castellammare di Stabia
Castellammare di Stabia
Castellammare di Stabia is a comune in the province of Naples, Campania region, southern Italy. It is situated on the Bay of Naples about 30 kilometers southeast of Naples, on the route to Sorrento.-History:...
in 1842 and Nocera in 1844.