Steam Locomotive CP 001

Although such locomotives did not make long journeys, they played a fundamental role in the shunting and preparation of trains that criss-crossed the country. This is the case with this CP 001 machine. This small locomotive was built in 1881 in Germany, by the Sächsische Maschinenfabrik factory, for the Royal Company of Portuguese Railways. It was part of a series of four locomotives that, due to their small size, combined with their robustness and ease of use, were deployed on track construction and shunting at stations and depots. This locomotive was based at Santa Apolónia station, as well as Lisbon-Campolide, Entroncamento and Abrantes. Due to their size, they became known in the railway environment as ‘Small mice’. Also known as pilot machines, they were the predecessors of diesel locomotives.