Infrastructure

Old Station at Cassà de la Selva

In 1889 the Compañía Anónima del Ferrocarril de Sant Feliu de Guíxols a Girona was established with the aim of undertaking the works that would make this project a reality. It would not be until 1892 when the 39.7 km of railway line would officially enter into service.

Known as Carrilet or Feliuet, it was the first Spanish railway with a track gauge of 75 cm. At that time, there was a great growth of railways in the province, reaching from the capital to Olot, Banyoles, Palamós and Sant Feliu.

It was extremely successful both in terms of passenger and freight transport, mainly dedicated to the traffic of cork sheets and stoppers, especially those coming out of the factory in Cassà de la Selva, an important processing centre for the material.

Despite this success, the company suffered from a lack of liquidity, which forced it to request government subsidies on several occasions. The funds were used to modernise the infrastructure, but despite this effort, the line had to close in 1969, mainly due to the rise of road transport.

The line consisted of two first category stations, two second category stations and four more third category stations, as well as five halt stations and the port facilities.

The station at Cassà de la Selva was second category station. It was located at Km 13.142 and was built in 1892. The complex consisted of a station with a hipped roof divided internally into three distinct spaces: the waiting room for passengers, the workers' living quarters and the ticketing and check-in office. In addition, it had two service tracks placed on both sides of the main line, a shed, an interior and an exterior dock and public restrooms.

As we mentioned before, Cassà de la Selva was an important urban centre where the cork route began. This was a great boost for this industry as the railway line linked the cork villages of Sant Feliu de Guíxols, Llagostera and Cassà with Girona station.

After the closure of the line in 1969, the building was used for various purposes such as a multipurpose hall, offices and exhibition space, before being restored in 1990.

Shortly after the closure of the line, the local businessman Josep M. Bregante acquired one of the locomotives from the rolling stock. Manufactured in Germany, its boiler used to burn through 8 to 10 kg of coal per kilometre.

The locomotive and wagons from the railway line can be seen from the outside, 365 days a year, in Marçal de Trinxeria street in Cassà de la Selva. They can be viewed from the interior every first Sunday of the month from 10 am to 1 pm, except when it coincides with the Festa Major (May/June), the Tap Fair (June) or the Santa Tecla Fair (September).

Otros puntos de interés

• Old Station at Llambilles
• Old Railway Bridge
• Old Railway Bridge
• Old Railway Bridge
• Old Station at Llagostera
• Old Railway Bridge
• Old Railway Bridge
• Old Station at Bell-Lloc Font Picant
• Old Station at Santa Cristina d'Aro
• Old Railway Bridge
• Old Railway Bridge
• Old Station at Castell d'Aro
• Bridge over the river Ridaura
• Former railway warehouses
• Old Railway Bridge
• Old Railway Bridge
• Old Quart Station