memTUA
memTUA
our subproject of oral history
memory of life and the railroad in Tua Valley
INTERVIEWS
Transcripts available in portuguese language: here
#34 - Alberto Lopes dos Santos, 88 yr old, engineer, retired. He was born in Romeu, in Casa Menéres, grand son of Francisco Lopes Seixas, manager of Casa Menéres, in Romeu (Mirandela). His fatther was one of first chief of Codeçais station, Tua line. Later Alberto worked for EDP in the area of design of dams and tunnels. He was one of the designers of Tua dam, before retiring.
Porto, 28 February 2015
Interview by Otília Lage, Leonor Fernandes and Eduardo Beira.
Video and photos by Nuno Beira.
#33 - Mª Paula Valente, 58 yr old, remembers the stories of his family life in Ribeirinha (Vila Flor), next to Tua line and Tua river, and his travels by train during summer holidays.
Interview by Otília Lage, Leonor Fernandes and Eduardo Beira .
Porto, 28 February 2015
Video and photos by Nuno Beira.
#32 - Mª Conceição Mesquita, from Selores, Carrazeda de Ansiães, descendent of the "house of Alganhafres" and of the "house of Selores" (both now in ruins), 85 yr old. She was born in Beira Grande, teached in Selores and later in the district of Porto.
Selores and Alganhafres, 23 February 2015
Interview by Leonor Fernandes and Eduardo Beira.
Video and photos by Nuno Beira.
#31 - Fernando Anjos, from Lavandeira, Carrazeda de Ansiães, retired railman, 82 years old. He was machinist and driver of steam and diesel locos in Tua line. In particular, he was the last driver in charge of the same steam loco that opened the Tua to Mirandela line with the king Luis I and the royal courtege (in the picture, the loco in the Museological Section of Bragança). During february 1987 he hosted President Mario Soares in the cabin of his steam loco, when the President visited Tras os Montes and travelled from Bragança to Mirandela along Tua line.
Bragança, 13 September 2014
Interview by Leonor Fernandes, Eduardo Beira and Otília Lage.
Video and photos by Nuno Beira.
#30 - Mª Joaquina de Sousa, 91 yr old, born and living in Pinhal do Norte, always worked on his agricultural land , producing wine, olive oil and cork, very close to Tua river and Tua line. Her story is the story of change during a century in a village in the peripheral and isolated Tua valley.
Pinhal do Norte, 18 August 2014
Interview by Leonor Fernandes, Eduardo Beira and Otília Lage.
Video and photos by Nuno Beira.
#29 - Florencia Vieira, singer, "fadista", was the interpreter of the song "O combóio do Tua" in the RTP festival, 1979 - something like an anthem of the Tua Valley nowdays. Now 63 yr old, she still sings the "fado" and maintains a very popular daily radio program about "fado".
V N Gaia, 27 February 2015
Interview by Leonor Fernandes e Eduardo Beira.
Video and photos by Nuno Beira.
#28 - Mario Contumélias, writer and poet, he was the author of poem of the celebrated song "O combóio do Tua" ("the Tua train"), for the RTP festival, 1979. Now he is a sociologist and he teaches in the university.
Lisbon, 2 January 2015
Interview by Hugo Pereira.
Video and photos by Nuno Beira.
#27 - Vasco Beça is direct descendent of Abilio Beça, the politician from Bragança that lobbied in the Parliament for the construction of the second leg of Tua line, between Mirandela and Bragança. Abilio Beça was also one of the first casualties of the new line: he died in a stupid accident in Salsas, close to Bragança, when entering the train.
Lisbon, 2014
Interview by Hugo Pereira.
Only audio recording available, as requested from the interviewee
(texto)
#26 - Maria João Lopes da Cruz Martins, from Codeçais, 82 yr old, is grand daughter of João Lopes ds Cruz, the constructor of the Tua line between Mirandela and Bragança, that went bankrupt in the last few miles of the job. Interview together with a brother, also grand son of the constructor.
Lisbon, 27 September 2014
Interview by Hugo Pereira.
Video and photos by Nuno Beira.
#25 - Luciano Gonçalves, from Codeçais, 79 yr old, entered the railcompany after serving in the army. He come from the bottomm of the rail work to be inspector of tovkets in the trains along Douro, Sabor and Tua lines. Now retired.
Codeçais, Carrazeda de Ansiães, 12 August 2014
Interview by Leonor Fernandes, Otília Lage and Eduardo Beira.
Video and photos by Eduardo Beira.
#24 - Luis Almeida, from Brunheda, 74 yr old, begun in the construction work, after serving in the colonial war, and then entered the rail company. He became a fireman in the locos during 1970, then a full driver of locos, including steam locos in railines in northern Portugal. Now retired.
Codeçais, Carrazeda de Ansiães, 23 August 2014
Interview by Leonor Fernandes, Otília Lage and Eduardo Beira.
Video and photos by Eduardo Beira.
#23 - António Santos, from Codeçais, 66 yr old, begun as railman, fought in the colonial war, emigrated to Luxemburg after returning from the war. In Luxemburg worked in the airport and became an union leader, before returning to Tua Valley, where is member of the local county council.
Codeçais, Carrazeda de Ansiães, 23 August 2014
Interview by Leonor Fernandes, Otília Lage and Eduardo Beira.
Video and photos by Eduardo Beira. Slideshow.
#22 - Railmen (2015, group #2).
Bernardino Cordeiro, Luis Queiroz and Reinaldo Queijo share their memories about Tua railway and other lines. All of them are retired railmen with long careers in the rail system.
Interview recorded after the annual celebration of rail people from Tras os Montes, in Azibo (Macedo de Cavaleiros)
Azibo, 25 April 2014
Interview by Albano Viseu, João Teixeira and Nuno Beira.
Video and photos by Nuno Beira.
#21 - Railmen (2015, group #1).
Aníbal Rodrigues (from Mirandela, 70 years old), João Evaristo Gonçalves (from Codeçais, 70 years old) and António Diamantino de Jesus (from Moncorvo, 63 years old) share their memories about Tua railway and other lines. All of them are retired railmen with long careers in the rail system.
Interview recorded after the annual celebration of rail people from Tras os Montes, in Azibo (Macedo de Cavaleiros)
Azibo, 25 April 2014
Interview by Albano Viseu, João Teixeira and Nuno Beira.
Video and photos by Nuno Beira.
#20 - Normando Augusto Pereira and Humberto Rosa Nunes.
Normando Pereira, engineer, retired. He has been in charge of CUF operations in Mirandela from 1976 until its closure in 1994. Previously his father has been in charge of the commercial operations of the plant during several decades.
Humberto Nunes has worked all his life in CUF, division of edible oils (where Mirandela operations were included) and managed some its plants in Portugal.
Mirandela, 15 July 2013
Interview by Eduardo Beira, Albano Viseu and Otilia Lage.
Video and photos by Nuno Beira. Slideshow.
(texto)
#19 - Armando Augusto Figueiredo Sarmento, 72 years, administrative supervisor in Mirandela operations of Ministry of Agriculture. As part time journalist he has contributed for different major national newspapers along decades.
Mirandela, 15 July 2013
Interview by Eduardo Beira, Albano Viseu and Otilia Lage
Video by Nuno Beira. Slideshow (Eduardo Beira). Slideshow (Nuno Beira)
#17 - Valdemar Augusto Pais, 72 years, retired railman, from Salsas (near Bragança). He has been in charge of the museological section in Bragança, from 19XX until its closure in 2005.
Salsas, 25 june 2013
Interview by Eduardo Beira and Hugo Pereira
Editing by Leonor Fernandes.
Video by Eduardo Beira. Photos by Eduardo Beira. Slideshow.
#16 - José Clemente de Oliveira Menéres, 790 years, engineer, retired. Member of the family Menéres and member of board of Sociedade Clemente Menéres.
Porto, 25 may 2013
Interview by Albano Viseu and Eduardo Beira
Editing by Leonor Fernandes.
Video by Nuno Beira. Photos by Eduardo Beira. Slideshow.
#15 - Maria Leonor Lopes Seixas, 90 years, retired teacher, daugther of a Francisco Lopes Seixas, manager of Casa Meneres (Romeu) for decades. Died in 2008, a few months after the interview.
V. N. Gaia, April 2008
Interview by Eduardo Beira
Transcript by Mafalda Martins. Final editing by Leonor Fernandes.
Video by Eduardo Beira. Photo by Eduardo Beira (2006).
#13 - Maria Augusta Moreira, 78 years, retired nurse, from Tua Valley to colonial Africa then back to Porto and now back to the Valley
Areias (Carrazeda de Ansiães), june 2012
Interview by Otilia Lage, Eduardo Beira, Leonor Fernandes
Editing by Leonor Fernandes.
Video by Nuno Beira. Photos by Eduardo Beira. Slideshow.
#12 - Mercês Lopes, 104 years, a life in a small village of the Tua Valley, managing and working her parcels of land
Areias (Carrazeda de Ansiães), july 2012.
Interview by Otilia Lage, Eduardo Beira, Leonor Fernandes
Editing by Leonor Fernandes.
Video by Nuno Beira. Photos by Eduardo Beira. Slideshow.
#11 - Manuel Jesus, Reinaldo Queijo, Fernando dos Anjos, José Russo, Procópio , a group of retired railmen from the region, that have also worked in Tua line. Collective interview
Mirandela, 25. April 2012
Interview by Otilia Lage, Eduardo Beira, Leonor Fernandes
Editing by Leonor Fernandes.
Video by Ivo Beirão. Photos by Eduardo Beira. Slideshow.
#9 - Mécia de Sena, 92 years, widow of Jorge de Sena (writer, professor and engineer), herself author of books
Santa Barbara (California, USA), 15. November 2011
Interview by Otilia Lage.
Editing by Leonor Fernandes.
Only audio record is available, by Otilia Lage.
(texto)
#8 - Orizia Alhinho, 80 years, teacher of primary schools (retired), author of books for children
Fiolhal, 7. April. 2012
Interview by Otilia Lage, Eduardo Beira, Leonor Fernandes
Editing by Leonor Fernandes.
Video recorded by Eduardo Beira, edited by Nuno Beira. Photos by Eduardo Beira. Slideshow.
#7 - Nuno Cadavez, 77 years, bibliophile, owner of Livraria Académica (Porto), one of the most prestigious bookscouts in Portugal
Porto, Livraria Académica, 28.Março 2012
Interview by Otilia Lage and Eduardo Beira
Editing by Leonor Fernandes.
Video by Nuno Beira. Photos by Nuno Beira. Slideshow.
#4 - José Augusto Teixeira, 79 years old, local worker
Sentrilha (a very small village between Pinhal do Norte and Brunheda, around one or two kms far from Tua river and rail line), 29 December 2011
Interview by Otilia Lage, Eduardo Beira, Leonor Fernandes
Editing by Leonor Fernandes.
Video by Nuno Beira. Photos by Eduardo Beira (Slideshow)
#2 - João Sampaio, vet in Tua Valley during the 70s and 80s, mayor of Carrazeda de Ansiaes (1986-1994), descendent of João Cruz (main contractor of Mirandela to Bragança section of Tua line)
Porto, 3 December 2011
Interview by Otilia Lage, Eduardo Beira, Leonor Fernandes
Editing by Leonor Fernandes.
Video by Nuno Beira.
