Brescia–Cellatica–Gussago Tramway
The Brescia–Cellatica–Gussago tramway was a short interurban tram line of the provincial network of Brescia that connected the city of Brescia to the municipality of Gussago, passing through the built-up area of Cellatica.
History
In early 1904, the municipal councils of Gussago, Cellatica and Brescia expressed interest in a tramway line connecting Brescia to the two neighbouring municipalities, setting up a promoting committee for this purpose.
An agreement was reached with the Società Elettrica Porta & C., which was interested in expanding its business in the electric tramway sector, and which offered to build and operate the line in exchange for contributions from the three municipalities and the province of Brescia.
According to the commitments, the line would have a length of 8.718 km and would run from Porta Trento to Gussago, passing through Sant'Eustacchio, Torricella, and Cellatica. A branch towards Porta Milano was planned, where a second terminus would be located. The Vignoles rails would be 21 kg/m at standard gauge, while the carriageway of the entire road would be 6.80 metres in urban sections and 6 metres in extra-urban sections. Power supply would be direct current between 500 and 700 volts.
In 1905, Porta & C. transformed into Società Elettrica Bresciana (SEB). That year, the carriageway was widened. The following year, track-laying work began. The line was inaugurated on 20 January 1907. The speed of the works was mainly due to the propaganda campaign of the Società Elettrica against the municipalisation of the Brescia tram network. In fact, fifteen days after the inauguration of the Brescia–Gussago line, a referendum on that matter was to be held.
Following the transfer of the provincial tram network from the Tramways à Vapeur to the SEB, the line was extended from Porta Milano to the station of the Belgian company, which stood near the railway station.
Around the time of the First World War, there were several proposals from municipalities in Franciacorta to extend the line from Gussago to Adro and Palazzolo or Sarnico, but these remained unanswered. After the war, and as happened for the other provincial lines, the SEB transferred the management of the tramway to its subsidiary Tramvie Elettriche Bresciane (TEB).
Tram services were suspended in the summer of 1953, and the track was removed in the same period.
Characteristics
Traction was electric direct current: at 600 V at the time of opening; from 1928, at 1,200 V, to match the rest of the provincial network.
See also
- History of rail transport in Italy
- List of railway stations in Lombardy
- Brescia–Mantua–Ostiglia Tramway
- Val Trompia tramway
- Brescia–Salò–Gargnano Tramway