Steam locomotive 0186 has reached its centenary and continues to make history

Until January, it can be seen drawing the Historical Christmas Steam Train between Porto and Ermesinde.

The whistle echoed once again in São Bento, Porto. Little by little, the station filled with steam. As usual, a crowd of curious onlookers and railway enthusiasts gathered around, with their mobile phones or cameras pointed at a locomotive that has spanned generations and continues to delight young and old alike, this time decked out with Christmas lights.

CP – Comboios de Portugal celebrated the centenary of the 0186 steam locomotive in a symbolic ceremony that preceded the first trips of this season's Historical Christmas Steam Train between Porto and Ermesinde.

The Chairman of CP, Pedro Moreira, and the Mayor of Valongo, Paulo Esteves Ferreira, unveiled a commemorative plaque, with the head of CP emphasising the importance of this locomotive as a living symbol of collective memory and the role of railways in the country's development and in connecting people and communities.

‘It is with great pride that we celebrate the 100th anniversary of locomotive 0186, a true icon of national railway history. This machine has spanned generations, witnessed profound changes and continues to arouse fascination and emotion. We want every journey on this train to be an opportunity to create memories, share smiles and celebrate what unites us,’ Pedro Moreira said. The CP chairman also emphasised the importance of the company's teams

in preserving and promoting this historical rolling stock and concluded by saying, ‘CP is proud to keep this heritage alive, while looking to the future with innovation and a commitment to sustainability.’

After the session, passengers and guests travelled to Ermesinde on a journey full of smiles and excitement.

 

An icon of the national railway and a bridge between the past and the future

Locomotive 0186 is an icon of national railway history. It is part of a group of steam engines built by German manufacturer Henschel & Sohn, which comprised the 0181-0190 series and entered service with the State Railway Company between 1924 and 1925. They were delivered to Portugal by Germany as compensation for World War I.

These engines remained in service until the late 1970s, operating from north to south of the country. At the end of their career, they still maintained some connections between Porto-São Bento and Viana do Castelo, and between Porto-São Bento and Régua. They were finally taken out of service in 1977, when steam traction on broad gauge tracks was discontinued in Portugal.

Between the 1990s and early 2000s, the CP 0186 steam locomotive was restored to integrate it into historic trains or special services, as has been the case, namely in the Douro Historical Train and the Historical Christmas Steam Train.

One hundred years later, the 0186 continues to be a bridge between people and places, technology and memory, past and future, and, in celebrating its centenary, CP reinforces the value of local tourism, railway culture and the revitalisation of the local economy, inviting families to write the next chapter, always on board.

This locomotive will continue to run between Porto and Ermesinde on the Historical Christmas Steam Train on Saturdays and Sundays until 4 January 2026.
The journeys are marked by the traditional sound of the whistle, steam in the air and Christmas lights and decorations, which promise to transport passengers to another time.