List of town tramway systems in Brazil

This is a list of town tramway systems in Brazil by Estado. It includes all tram systems, past and present.

Alagoas

LocationArticleGauge
(mm)
Traction
Type
Date (from)
(year-month-day)
Date (to)
(year-month-day)
Notes
Maceió Steam1868-03-23?[1]
Horse1871-12-25?[2]
electric1914-June-121956 ca.[3]
Penedo Horse1909-01-011936-12-31[4]

Amazonas

LocationArticleGauge
(mm)
Traction
Type
Date (from)
(year-month-day)
Date (to)
(year-month-day)
Notes
Manaus Steam1895 ca.1898 ca.[5], [6]
electric1899-Aug-011957-02-28[7], [8] Operation suspended 1954 - 1956.

Bahia

LocationArticleGauge
(mm)
Traction
Type
Date (from)
(year-month-day)
Date (to)
(year-month-day)
Notes
Alagoinhas Horse?? 
Cachoeira Horse1872-10-301921[9]
Ilhéus Horse?? 
Nazaré Horse?? 
Steam?? 
Salvador Horse1860?[10], [11]
Steam1869-May-12?[12], [13]
electric1897-03-141961-Sep[14], [15], [16]
Santo Amaro Horse1874-01-011962[17]

Ceará

LocationArticleGauge
(mm)
Traction
Type
Date (from)
(year-month-day)
Date (to)
(year-month-day)
Notes
Fortaleza Horse1880-04-25 (or ca. 1875)?[18]
electric1913-Oct-091947-05-19[19]
Sobral Horse18941918[20]
  • Aracati - Horse traction (?). Morrison (1989, page 43) [21] states that an 1873 brochure issued by the Brazilian government mentions a tramway project in this town; it is not known whether the tramway was built.

Espírito Santo

LocationArticleGauge
(mm)
Traction
Type
Date (from)
(year-month-day)
Date (to)
(year-month-day)
Notes
Cachoeiro de Itapemirim electric1924-12-251938-June-04[22]
Vila Velha 1000electric1912-Apr-121967-12-15[23], [24] Connected Paul (ferry terminal for Vitória) and Vila Velha.
Vitória Horse1907-July-111913 by[25], [26]
electric1911-07-211963-05-23[27], [28]

Goiás

LocationArticleGauge
(mm)
Traction
Type
Date (from)
(year-month-day)
Date (to)
(year-month-day)
Notes
Goiás Horse?? 

Maranhão

LocationArticleGauge
(mm)
Traction
Type
Date (from)
(year-month-day)
Date (to)
(year-month-day)
Notes
Caxias Horse?? 
Dom Pedro Horse?? 
São Luís Horse1872 ca.?[29]
electric1924-09-151966-Dec[30]
♦ Tirirical electric1978-10-261983[31]

Mato Grosso

LocationArticleGauge
(mm)
Traction
Type
Date (from)
(year-month-day)
Date (to)
(year-month-day)
Notes
Cuiabá Mule1891-04-301935[32]
Cuiabá electric2014[33]

Minas Gerais

LocationArticleGauge
(mm)
Traction
Type
Date (from)
(year-month-day)
Date (to)
(year-month-day)
Notes
Além Paraíba 1000Mule18951925 (?)[34]
1000electric1925-11-151939-07-25[35] Closed following an accident.
Belo Horizonte Steam1895-Sep-07?[36], [37]
Horse1899-02-16?[38], [39]
electric1902-Sep-021963-06-30[40], [41]
Bom Sucesso 1000electric1930-09-211950 (?)[42]
Campanha Mule1911?[43]
Steam1911 (?)?[44]
Petrol (gasoline) (?) [45]
electric (?)  [46] see note.
Cataguases Horse1910-11-25
1915-Aug-10
1914
1918-03-24
[47]
Caxambu 750Horse19111925[48]
Guarará Mule18951923[49]
Juiz de Fora 1000Horse1889-Sep-07?[50]
1000electric1906-June-061969-04-14[51]
Lavras 1000electric1911-10-211967-Noc-08[52]
Mar de Espanha Horse (?)  [53] see note.
Nova Lima - Rapopos 660electric1913-Apr-031970 ca.[54]
Ouro Preto Mule1888-Dec-011891 ca.[55]
Pedro Leopoldo 1000Mule19071930[56]
Sacramento - Cipó 1000electric1913-11-151937-Oct[57]
São Lourenço Horse19051932[58]
Telófilo Otoni Horse1918-Sep1938-May[59]
Ubá Mule18951922[60]
  • Note for Campanha: Morrison (1989, page 87) [61] describes conflicting information on whether the tramway was electrified, and when it closed.
  • Note for Mar de Espanha: Morrison (1989, page 79) [62] states that one source (dated 1889) mentions a tramway in this town, but no other information could be located.

Pará

LocationArticleGauge
(mm)
Traction
Type
Date (from)
(year-month-day)
Date (to)
(year-month-day)
Notes
Belém Steam1869-Sep-01?[63], [64]
Mule18701908-07-21[65], [66]
electric1907-08-151947-04-27[67], [68] Heritage tramway opened 18 August 2005 [69].
Mosqueiro Horse1913 ca. (?)?[70]
San Antônio do Prata Horse19071914[71] Replaced by railway branch line.

Paraíba

LocationArticleGauge
(mm)
Traction
Type
Date (from)
(year-month-day)
Date (to)
(year-month-day)
Notes
Itabaiana Horse19141929[72]
João Pessoa Horse1896-June-06?[73]
Steam1906-10-211919[74]
Petrol (gasoline)1911-02-151919[75]
electric1914-02-191958[76]

Paraná

LocationArticleGauge
(mm)
Traction
Type
Date (from)
(year-month-day)
Date (to)
(year-month-day)
Notes
Curitiba Mule1887-Nov-081913[77], [78]
electric1913-Jan-071952-Jun[79], [80]
Paranaguá Steam1893-Dec-071938[81]
Mule?1938[82]
Petrol (gasoline)?1938[83]

Pernambuco

LocationArticleGauge
(mm)
Traction
Type
Date (from)
(year-month-day)
Date (to)
(year-month-day)
Notes
Afogados da Ingazeira Horse18951914 ca.[84]
Arcoverde Horse??[85] See Carpina (below).
Carpina Horse??[86] Morrison (1989, page 55) cites a Recife historian who states that this town had a tramway.
Caruaru Horse??[87] See Carpina (above).
Limoeiro Horse??[88]
Petrol (gasoline)?1952[89]
Palmares Horse??[90] See Carpina (above).
Pesqueira Horse191_193_[91]
Recife Steam1867-Jan-051922[92], [93]
Mule1871-09-22?[94], [95]
electric1914-05-131954-Mar[96], [97] Service (one daily return trip, worked by a single car) resumed because of court action by the local authority, and continued to 1960.
Timbaúba Horse1915-10-10193_[98]
Triunfo Horse??[99] See Carpina (above).
  • Garanhuns - Diesel traction [100]. Test operations conducted with a former Recife tramcar, equipped with a diesel engine, in 1968 over a (then recently closed) railway branch. The engine, overloaded by large numbers of passengers seeking to ride on opening day, failed. Public service was not attempted thereafter.
  • Goiana - Horse traction (?). Morrison (1989, page 55) [101] states that an 1873 brochure issued by the Brazilian government mentions a tramway project in this town; it is not known whether the tramway was built.

Piauí

LocationArticleGauge
(mm)
Traction
Type
Date (from)
(year-month-day)
Date (to)
(year-month-day)
Notes
Parnaíba Horse?? 
Teresina Horse??[102]

Rio de Janeiro

LocationArticleGauge
(mm)
Traction
Type
Date (from)
(year-month-day)
Date (to)
(year-month-day)
Notes
Barra do Piraí Mule?? 
Campos (dos Goytacazes) 1000Mule1875-09-191916[1]
1000electric1916-10-14
1923
1918-09-15
1964-11-15
[1]
Petrol (gasoline)19181923[1]
Macaé 1000Mule1872-06-291932[1]
Magé Horse1873-Feb-041896-Nov-01[1] Temporary operation on planned railway route.
Manuel Duarte Horse18831911[1] Connected Paraibuna and Manuel Duarte. Replaced by railway line.
Mendes Mule18891912 ca.[1] See note.
Nova Friburgo 1100Mule18831933[1]
Petrópolis 1000electric1912-12-131939-07-15[1]
Riberão das Lajes Petrol (gasoline)19061935[1] Operated over former dam-construction railway from Nicanor Pereira.
(São Sebastião do) Rio de JaneiroVLT (Rio de Janeiro)Horse1859-01-31
1868-Oct-09
1862-Sep
1910-03-26
[2]
Steam1862-Sep
1882
1866-11-28
?
[2]
electric1892-Oct-081967-12-21[2]
1435electric2016-Jun-06
Madureira Horse1911-09-281928[2]
electric1928-Oct-12?[2]
Santa TeresaSanta Teresa TramHorse1875-05-251897-Jun,[2] http://www.tramz.com/br/rj/st/st.html , [103]
1100electric1896-Sep-01 [2]
Campo Grande electric1917-05-171967-10-31[1]
♦ Ilha do Governador electric1922-Oct-041965-Apr-10[2]
Santa Cruz 820Horse18801911[1]
Niterói Horse1871-Oct-091908-08-15[1]
Accumulator (storage battery)1883-Oct-071885-Feb (after)[1]
electric1906-10-311964-07-31[1]
♦♦ São Gonçalo Steam1899-Aug-051917-Feb[1] Connected Niterói (Neves) and Alcântara.
Petrol (gasoline)1917-02-151925-Jul[1] Connected Niterói (Neves) and Alcântara.
electric1910-08-251964-07-31[1] Connected Niterói and Alcântara. See note.
Teresópolis Horse?? 
Vassouras Mule1883-July-111914[1]
  • Barra do Piraí - Peschkes (Part 1, 1980, page 45) lists a tramway (using animal traction) in this town. Morrison (1989, page 120) states that an 1888 government report describes three concessions for tramway construction, and a 1922 publication includes two photographs showing track and overhead wire in streets. However, he adds that a visit to the city "failed to produce any information about the existence of a passenger tramway."
  • Note for Mendes: Tramway extended from Humberto Antunes railway station. Electric traction (for goods) and petrol traction (for passengers), ca. 1912 - 1952. Unconnected line extended from Mendes railway station, horse traction, 1900 - 1932.
  • Note for Niterói: Niterói tramway undertaking extended to São Gonçalo from 25 August 1910 (electric traction). São Gonçalo tramway absorbed by Niterói undertaking from 1921.
  • Notes for Rio de Janeiro: Period of no tramway operation following closure of first line (to Tijuca, in 1866) and opening of the second line (to Largo do Machado) on 9 October 1868 (later extended to Jardim Botânico). Tijuca line reopened (by a new undertaking) on 19 January 1870. First tramway line in Zona Norte opened 29 November 1873.
    • Experiments with accumulator (storage battery) traction on 2 July 1887 and 16 July 1887.
    • Electric traction inaugurated in Zona Sul on 8 October 1892, and in Zona Norte on 1 July 1905. Last line in Zona Norte closed 21 May 1963. Only one line (in Zona Sul) remained in operation after 17 May 1965.
    • Alto da Boa Vista line [104] retained as tourist line, but operation suspended because of storm damage 10 January 1966 – May 1966. Operation again suspended because of storm damage, 22 January 1967 – Mar 1967. Following a period of intermittent operation, the line was declared closed on 21 December 1967.
  • Note for Santa Cruz: Connected Santa Cruz and Itaguaí (1880 - 1907, replaced by railway branch), and Santa Cruz and Sepetiba (27 June 1884 - 1911).

Rio Grande do Norte

LocationArticleGauge
(mm)
Traction
Type
Date (from)
(year-month-day)
Date (to)
(year-month-day)
Notes
Macau Horse?? 
Mossoró Horse?? 
Steam?? 
Natal Horse1908-Sep-07?[105]
electric1911-Oct-021955-May[106]

Rio Grande do Sul

LocationArticleGauge
(mm)
Traction
Type
Date (from)
(year-month-day)
Date (to)
(year-month-day)
Notes
Bagé Horse (?)??[107]
Cassino Horse (?)??[108]
Passo Fundo Horse?? 
Pelotas 1435Horse1873-09-091915 ca.[109]
1435electric1915-10-201955-Apr[110]
Porto Alegre Mule1864-Nov-01
1873-Jan-04
1872
1914
[111], [112]
electric1908-Mar-101970-Mar-08[113], [114]
Rio Grande 1000Mule1876-July-051912 ca.[115]
1000electric1911-11-151967-06-15[116]
Santa Maria Horse?? 
São Leopoldo 1000Horse1914-11-291915[117]
Uruguaiana Horse (?)??[118]

Santa Catarina

LocationArticleGauge
(mm)
Traction
Type
Date (from)
(year-month-day)
Date (to)
(year-month-day)
Notes
Florianópolis Mule1880-Nov-06
1909-June-05
1885
193_
[119]
Joinville Mule1911-01-291917-Apr-10[120]

São Paulo

LocationArticleGauge
(mm)
Traction
Type
Date (from)
(year-month-day)
width=80px Date (to)
(year-month-day)
Notes
Campinas electric1912-06-24
1968-05-24
[121]
electric1972-Nov-05Heritage tramway, (operates on Saturdays and Sundays, year round).
♦ Campinas - Joaquím Egido - Souzas - Cabras Steam18941917[122]
electric1917-03-181960-02-10[123]
♦ Joaquím Egido - Doutor Lacerda Petrol (gasoline)19191939-Oct-01[124]
Campos do Jordão Petrol (gasoline)1914-11-15
1924-12-21
1916
1956
[125], [126], [127]
1000electric1956 [128], [129], [130]
Pindamonhangaba - Campos do Jordão Petrol (gasoline)1914-11-151916 ca.[131], [132], [133] Goods trains worked by steam. Line not operated between ca. 1916 and 1924.
electric1924-12-21 [134], [135], [136] Operation suspended 1982 - Oct 1986.
Guaratinguetá Mule18981920 ca.[137]
electric1914-Mar-071957 ca.[138] Line connected Guaratinguetá and Aparecida.
Aparecida Mule18951913[139]
electric1913-Dec-081957 ca.[140]
Jundiaí 600Mule18931896[141]
(electric)  Morrison (1989, page 46) [142] states that an electric tramway project in 1914 was stopped because of the First World War.
Lorena Mule1886-10-181896[143]
Piracicaba 1000electric1916-01-151969-Oct-03[144]
Piraju 1000electric1915-Aug-011931 (or 2 August 1937)Morrison (1989, page 159) [145], [146] describes conflicting information about the date of closure.
♦ Piraju - Sarutaiá electric1915-08-151931 (or 2 August 1937)Morrison (1989, page 159) [147], [148] describes conflicting information about the date of closure.
Ribeirão Preto (electric)  Peschkes (Part 1, 1980, page 46) states that the tramway was constructed, but not opened.
Santo André Horse?? 
Santos Mule1871-Oct-081912-May-03 
Electric1909-04-281971-02-28 
Santos heritage tramwayElectric10 June 1984October 1986First heritage tramway[3]
Santos heritage tramwayElectric23 Sep 2000Second heritage tramway[4]
Santos light rail [pt]Electric31 Jan 2016Modern tramway/light rail[5]
São Vicente 1350Mule1875-10-241909[149]
electric1909-04-28?[150] Operated as part of Santos system.
Guarujá - Itapema Steam18931925[151]
1000electric1925-Jan-111956-07-13[152]
São Carlos Horse18951896[153], [154] Tramway closed because of yellow fever epidemic.
electric1914-12-271962-06-16[155], [156]
São Paulo Mule1872-Oct-121907[157]
Steam1886-03-141914[158][permanent dead link]
electric1900-May-071968-03-27[159]
São Bernardo do Campo 1000Petrol (gasoline)1923-May-031930-Oct-05[160] Tramway connected São Bernardo do Campo and São Caetano (do Sul).
Tramway da Cantareira Steam?1965-05-31[161] See note.
Sorocaba 1000electric1915-12-301959-02-28[162], [163]
♦ Sorocaba - Votorantim electric1922-Feb-041966[164], [165] Public passenger service withdrawn 1966, non-public passenger service withdrawn 1977.
Taubaté 800Mule1879-05-271910 ca.[166]
600Steam18801920[167] Connected Taubaté and Tremembé.

Non-public tramway:

LocationArticleGauge
(mm)
Traction
Type
Date (from)
(year-month-day)
Date (to)
(year-month-day)
Notes
Vila de Itatinga Steam19061958[168], [169]
800electric1958-JanUnknown, c. 2017 or 2016[170]. Closed as a tramway by 2017,[6] but the tracks remained in use, with intermittent service (for workers) sometimes using the former tramcars being towed by diesel tractors[7] (effectively making the line an ordinary railway, no longer a tramway)
  • Note for São Paulo - Tramway da Cantareira: Narrow-gauge light railway. Connected São Paulo, Cantareira, and Guarulhos. Electrification of Guarulhos line planned (ca. 1942, not carried out. Cantareira line closed 1957. Guarulhos line closed 31 May 1965.

Sergipe

LocationArticleGauge
(mm)
Traction
Type
Date (from)
(year-month-day)
Date (to)
(year-month-day)
Notes
Aracaju Mule1908-10-24?[171]
electric1926-June-021955[172]

See also

References