Travelling back in time on the Douro

All aboard the Douro Historical Train.

Anyone visiting the Douro and wanting to know the region and try out the Douro line should consider the historical train a must-see alternative. Our love for the Douro wine region goes way back and is entirely justified. What nature and human effort have created together in the Douro has been supplemented in recent years by the tourist development of the region, particularly wine tourism. The charms of the Douro line are well known to the general public and train lovers in particular.

When we arrive at Régua station, steam engine 0186, built in 1925, is belching out smoke and whistling, hitched up to the five classic wooden carriages. The train leaves right on time to climb up the Douro Valley.

The carriages are completely full, and you could just feel the enthusiasm of everyone, young and old, some remembering past experiences and others an adventure that was about to begin. Nobody can remain indifferent to the Douro historical train, even those who wave as it pulls out of the station, puffs through stations and stops, or even the boats passing by on the river.

Inside the carriages, the passengers’ enthusiasm is heightened by the musical group and traditional local singers, along with a glass of Ferreira Port. But the show's star is the journey and the historical train. Our attention is divided between what is happening outside, on the River Douro and its marvellously worked terraces, but also by the train’s details, the sounds of the wheels on the rails, the wind in our faces, the shrill whistle of the engine and the black smoke that marks its passage. We stop at Pinhão, with its lovely glazed tile panels.

Then, we head off towards Tua, the final stop for the historical train, where there is a small display of regional products in Tua station. Tua reminds you of a train stop in the American Far West, wild and beautiful, raw and enigmatic. After here, the vines stop since the banks of the River Douro become steeper and rockier before reappearing further upstream. The engine is filled with water again and moves to the other end of the carriages, ready for the return journey.

We are on our way back to Régua and had a fantastic journey. The Douro is like that. It stays in your heart, regardless of your age, always knowing it can surprise you and exceed our expectations.